Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
{{Short description|Brand of Tennessee whiskey}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
| logo = Uncle_Nearest_Premium_Whiskey_Logo.png
| type = private
| foundation = July 2017 (Lynchburg, Tennessee)
| founder = {{unbulleted list}} Fawn Weaver
Keith Weaver
| location_city = Shelbyville, Tennessee
| location_country = US
| location =
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Nathan "Nearest" Green (historical master distiller)
| industry = Manufacturing and distillation of liquors
| products = Distilled and blended liquors
| production =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| owner = Uncle Nearest, Inc.
| num_employees =
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| website = {{URL|unclenearest.com}}
}}
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is a brand of Tennessee whiskey produced by Uncle Nearest, Inc., headquartered in Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States. The whiskey is named after the formerly enslaved man, Nathan "Nearest" Green, who taught a young Jack Daniel the craft of distilling.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/dining/jack-daniels-whiskey-slave-nearest-green.html|title=When Jack Daniel's Failed to Honor a Slave, an Author Rewrote History|last=Risen|first=Clay|date=2017-08-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
As of 2023, eight brand variants have been produced.{{Cite web|last=AmericanWhiskeyMag|date=2020-01-23|title=Uncle Nearest – 1884 Small Batch Tennessee Whiskey|url=https://americanwhiskeymag.com/2020/01/23/uncle-nearest-1884-small-batch-tennessee-whiskey/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=American Whiskey Magazine|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hurt |first=Jeanette |title=Uncle Nearest Adds Rye To Its Whiskey Lineup |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2022/10/03/uncle-nearest-adds-rye-to-its-legendary-lineup-of-whiskeys/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}} According to the IWSR, Uncle Nearest is the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the United States, and is recognized as the most successful Black-owned distillery in the world.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=DeAnna |date=2022-12-12 |title=Uncle Nearest Is Officially the Most Successful Black-Owned Distillery in the World |url=https://www.ebony.com/uncle-nearest-is-officially-the-most-successful-black-owned-distillery-in-the-world/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=EBONY |language=en-US}}
Uncle Nearest was named one of the 100 Reasons to Love America by People magazine in 2021,{{cite web |title=PEOPLE's List of 100 Reasons to Love America in 2021 |url=https://people.com/celebrity/100-reasons-to-love-america-in-2021/?slide=0286bb83-97b1-4fd6-9e09-916d39faa597#0286bb83-97b1-4fd6-9e09-916d39faa597 |website=People |access-date=2 July 2021 |language=en}} and one of Inc.'s 5000 fastest-growing US companies from 2019 to 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-27 |title=1st Uncle Nearest Rye Whiskey Arrives |url=https://whiskeyraiders.com/rye/uncle-nearest-unveils-its-1st-rye-whiskey-promises-more-to-come/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Whiskey Raiders |language=en}}
History
Uncle Nearest, Inc., launched the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey brand in July 2017 and subsequently announced plans to expand into domestic and international markets, debuting its first whiskey, Nathan Green 1870 Single Barrel, in October 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/uncle-nearest-1856-whiskey-expands-team-spirits-industry-exec-lifestyle-specialist-kenny-burns/|title=Uncle Nearest 1856 Whiskey Expands Team with Spirits Industry Exec And Lifestyle Specialist Kenny Burns|date=2018-03-17|website=Distillery Trail|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-19}} It is the first spirit named after an African-American.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isstories.com/2018/06/28/uncle-nearest-debuts-tariff-free-cocktail-in-london-2/|title=Uncle Nearest Debuts Tariff-Free Cocktail In London|last=Issuewire|date=2018-06-28|website=IsStories|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-19}}{{Cite web |last=Minnick |first=Fred |title=Whiskey Legacy: New Single Barrel Honors Forgotten Whiskey Godfather |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/fredminnick/2019/01/30/whiskey-legacy-new-single-barrel-honors-forgotten-whiskey-godfather/ |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Malt|first=Master of|date=2018-10-05|title=The Nightcap: 5 October|url=https://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/the-nightcap-5-october.aspx|access-date=2019-06-02|website=Master of Malt Blog|language=en-GB}} As of September 2019, it is sold in all 50 states and twelve countries, and reached $100 million in sales in October 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2019/04/her-whiskey-company-preserves-master-distiller.html?page=all|title=Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey preserves the legacy of master distiller Nearest Green|website=Bizwomen|access-date=2019-05-19}}{{Cite web |last=Trail |first=Distillery |date=2022-12-10 |title=African-American Owned Uncle Nearest Distillery Whiskey Sales Exceed $100 Million and "It's about damn time." [VIDEO] |url=https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/african-american-owned-uncle-nearest-distillery-whiskey-sales-exceed-100-million-and-its-about-damn-time-video/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Distillery Trail |language=en-US}}
In 2019,{{Cite web |last=AmericanWhiskeyMag |date=2019-11-12 |title=Uncle Nearest announces new master blender, Victoria Eady-Butler |url=https://americanwhiskeymag.com/2019/11/12/uncle-nearest-announces-new-master-blender-victoria-eady-butler/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=American Whiskey Magazine |language=en-US}} Uncle Nearest announced Victoria Eady Butler, a descendant of Nathan Green, as master blender, becoming the first known African-American female whiskey master blender.{{Cite web |title=The First African American Woman Master Blender Is Here to End the White-Washing of American Whiskey |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/whisky/uncle-nearest-victoria-butler |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Food & Wine |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McKirdy |first=Tim |date=2021-10-21 |title=Victoria Eady Butler Continues a Forgotten Whiskey Legacy, 160 Years On |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/next-wave-victoria-eady-butler/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=VinePair |language=en-US}} She was named Master Blender of the Year by Whisky Magazine, VinePair, and The Spirits Business in 2021,{{Cite web|date=2022-01-31|title=Uncle Nearest Releases Slate Of New, Home-Grown Whiskeys|url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/uncle-nearest-releases-slate-of-new-home-grown-whiskeys/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=The Whiskey Wash|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=Uncle Nearest Is Officially the Most Successful Black-Owned Distillery in the World |url=https://www.ebony.com/uncle-nearest-is-officially-the-most-successful-black-owned-distillery-in-the-world/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Ebony |language=en-US}} and became Whisky's first back-to-back winner in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Benton |first1=Levi |title=Uncle Nearest's Eady Butler Becomes First to Win Back to Back Master Blender of Year Awards |url=https://www.fredminnick.com/2022/03/02/uncle-nearests-eady-butler-becomes-first-to-win-back-to-back-master-blender-of-year-awards/ |website=Fred Minnick |date=2 March 2022}}
In June 2020, the Nearest Green Foundation (co-founded by Fawn and Keith Weaver) and the Jack Daniel Distillery announced the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative.{{cite web |title=TN Whiskey Companies Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's Pledge $5 Million to Advance African American Leadership in Whiskey Industry |url=https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/tn-whiskey-companies-uncle-nearest-and-jack-daniels-pledge-5-million-to-advance-african-american-leadership-in-whiskey-industry/ |website=Distillery Trail |access-date=21 June 2021 |date=2020-06-11}} Each company contributed $2.5 million to create the Nearest Green School of Distilling at Motlow State Community College, which includes the Leadership Acceleration Program for apprenticeships, and the Business Incubation Program, which provides expertise and resources to African-Americans entering the spirits industry.{{cite web |last1=Paulus |first1=Caroline |title=The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative Pledges $5 Million to Further Diversity in the Whiskey Industry |url=https://www.gobourbon.com/the-nearest-jack-advancement-initiative-pledges-5-million-to-further-diversity-in-the-whiskey-industry/ |website=The Bourbon Review |access-date=21 June 2021 |date=2020-06-11}}
On June 1, 2021, Uncle Nearest formed the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, a $50 million initiative to invest in minority-founded and owned spirits brands.{{Cite news|last=Dunn|first=Elizabeth G.|date=2021-06-01|title=A Black Whiskey Entrepreneur Will Help Bankroll Others Like Her|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/dining/drinks/uncle-nearest-whiskey-black-owned.html|access-date=2021-06-02|issn=0362-4331}} The company announced the Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge in January 2023 to raise $1 million for HBCU's.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=DeAnna |title=Uncle Nearest Whiskey Raising $1 Million for Underfunded HBCUs |url=https://www.ebony.com/uncle-nearest-whiskey-raising-1-million-for-underfunded-hbcus/ |website=Ebony |access-date=27 January 2023 |date=18 January 2023}}
In October 2023, Uncle Nearest announced the acquisition of Domaine Saint Martin, a 100-acre estate and vineyard in the Grande Champagne district of Cognac.{{cite web |last1=Browley |first1=Jasmine |title=Black Woman-Owned 'Uncle Nearest' Whiskey Brand Makes History Again—Purchases Largest Grande Champagne Vineyard In Cognac, France |url=https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/uncle-nearest-champagne-vineyard-cognac/ |website=Essence |access-date=1 November 2023 |date=12 October 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Bowes |first1=Lauren |title=Uncle Nearest to expand into Cognac |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2023/10/uncle-nearest-to-expand-into-cognac/ |website=The Spirits Business |access-date=1 November 2023 |date=11 October 2023}}
= Nathan "Nearest" Green =
Known as Uncle Nearest, Nathan "Nearest" Green was acknowledged in 2016 as the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/uncle-nearest-1856-whiskey/|title=Uncle Nearest is a Whiskey Named After the First African-American Master Distiller in U.S.|website=www.themanual.com|date=10 November 2017|access-date=2019-05-19}} He taught Jack Daniel to make Tennessee whiskey and served as the first master distiller – formerly called "head stiller" – for the Jack Daniel Distillery as a free man after the Civil War.{{Cite web|title=Nearest and Jack Team Up Again with $5 Million Whiskey Diversity Initiative {{!}} WhiskyCast|url=https://whiskycast.com/nearest-and-jack-team-up-again-with-5-million-whiskey-diversity-initiative/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=whiskycast.com|date=11 June 2020 }} He was instrumental in developing the Lincoln County Process, the sugar maple charcoal filtering method used to make most Tennessee Whiskey.{{Cite web|title=The Whiskey Brand That's Highlighting How Black History Shaped American Spirits|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/whiskey-brand-thats-highlighting-black-150000081.html|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Yahoo|date=21 February 2020 |language=en-US}}
Nearest Green Distillery
File:Nearest Green Distillery.jpg
In 2017, a rezoning proposal was approved by the Bedford County board to accommodate a whiskey-themed business at the former Sand Creek Farms in Shelbyville, Tennessee.{{Cite web|title=Plans unveiled for Sand Creek whiskey facility {{!}} The Walking Horse Report|url=https://www.walkinghorsereport.com/news/Plans-unveiled-for-Sand-Creek-whiskey|access-date=2021-10-13|website=The Walking Horse Report Online}} On September 14, 2019,{{Cite web|last=Cioletti|first=Jeff|title=Phase 1 of Nearest Green Whiskey Distillery Opens 9/14|url=https://craftspiritsmag.com/2019/08/28/phase-1-of-nearest-green-whiskey-distillery-opens-sept-14/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=Craft Spirits Magazine|date=28 August 2019 |language=en-US}} the first phase of the Nearest Green Distillery opened, which included the Welcome House, a bottling house, a working horse and cattle farm, and the Toppy's Copper Skies Bar.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-13|title=Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to Open First Phase Of Distillery|url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/uncle-nearest-premium-whiskey-to-open-first-phase-of-visitors-center/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=The Whiskey Wash|language=en-US}} It was the first distillery in the United States named after a Black person.{{Cite web|last=Swartz|first=Kyle|date=2021-07-28|title=Uncle Nearest Expands Distillery {{!}} Beverage Dynamics|url=https://beveragedynamics.com/2021/07/28/uncle-nearest-distillery-farm-expansion-tour/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=beveragedynamics.com|language=en-US}}
After a year-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the distillery re-opened its doors on Juneteenth 2021, adding a single-barrel rickhouse, an improved Welcome Center and Family Tasting Room, a restaurant, a non-alcoholic speakeasy,{{Cite web|date=2021-08-09|title='Field of Dreams': Black-Owned Distillery Named After Former Enslaved Man Who Taught Jack Daniels to Make Whiskey Expands to More Than 320 Acres|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2021/08/09/field-of-dreams-black-owned-distillery-named-after-former-enslaved-man-who-taught-jack-daniels-to-make-whiskey-expands-to-more-than-320-acres/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Atlanta Black Star|language=en-US}} and the Master Blender House.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-19|title=Uncle Nearest Distillery Celebrates Juneteenth with Grand Reopening – Welcoming 10k Fans|url=https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/uncle-nearest-distillery-celebrates-juneteenth-with-grand-reopening-welcoming-10k-fans/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Distillery Trail|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Sherrill|first=EDITOR Duane|title=Nearest Green reveals $50M build out at Shelbyville distillery|url=https://www.tullahomanews.com/living/nearest-green-reveals-50m-build-out-at-shelbyville-distillery/article_c89b8f98-d5ba-11eb-91c0-fb5fe1a299ab.html|access-date=2021-08-06|website=Tullahoma News|language=en}} That month, the distillery purchased an additional 53 acres for further expansion, and announced plans to dedicate 100 acres to grow organic corn for its blends.{{Cite web|last=Dingwall|first=Kate|title=Nearest Green Distillery Expands With Major Land Purchase|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katedingwall/2021/07/31/nearest-green-distillery-expands-with-major-land-purchase/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Forbes|language=en}}
On March 23, 2023, the distillery opened Humble Baron, a 202-seat entertainment venue featuring a 518-foot long horseshoe bar (designed by Death & Co.), named the longest in the world by the Guinness World Records.{{Cite web |last=Report |first=T.-G. Staff |title=Crowds cram into the world's longest bar: Humble Baron hosts grand opening |url=https://www.t-g.com/stories/crowds-cram-into-the-worlds-largest-bar,90724 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Shelbyville Times-Gazette |date=28 March 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=WZTV |first=Sydney Keller |date=2023-03-23 |title=Guinness World Records names Tennessee distillery's 518-foot bar longest ever |url=https://katv.com/news/offbeat/nashville-middle-tennessee-instagram-tiktok-shelbyville-guinness-world-record-names-tennessee-distillery-worlds-longest-bar-beford-county-local-news |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=KATV |language=en}} The distillery's second phase will complete with the future opening of the Still House.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-13|title=Uncle Nearest Whiskey Opens Tennessee Visitors Center|url=https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/uncle-nearest-opening-tennessee/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Whisky Advocate|language=en-US}}
The company announced the purchase of an additional 109 acres in Shelbyville in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=2023-05-03 |title=Uncle Nearest expands distillery |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2023/05/uncle-nearest-expands-distillery/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}
Whiskeys
The recipe behind the Uncle Nearest Tennessee whiskeys dates back to the whiskeys made in the late 1800s in Lincoln County. According to Weaver, "[the recipe] was saved from a fire just behind the square in Lynchburg, and is now under lock and key at the Farmers Bank in Lynchburg, the bank Jack Daniel founded in 1888." The recipe includes corn malt, a former whiskey ingredient long missing from Tennessee whiskeys.
The Uncle Nearest brand originally included a silver and an aged whiskey, both distilled from locally sourced grains and bottled in Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Dan |date=2018-05-17 |title=Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey Honors the Emancipated Slave Who Helped Launch a Brand |url=https://robbreport.com/food-drink/spirits/uncle-nearest-1856-premium-whiskey-honors-nearest-green-2794642/ |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Robb Report |language=en}} The silver whiskey takes 25 days to make, using an 11-step process that includes a triple charcoal mellowing system designed for the brand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/food-drink/bites/article/21010750/four-more-to-pour|title=Whiskey News: Four More to Pour|website=Nashville Scene|date=28 June 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-19}} The company added a single-barrel whiskey in July 2018.
The brand's first three releases are named after the year Nearest was born (1820), the year he was credited with perfecting the Lincoln County Process (1856), and the year he retired (1884).{{Cite web |title=Uncle Nearest Is the Most Important Story in American Whiskey History |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/booze/uncle-nearest-whiskey-history |access-date=2021-03-26 |website=InsideHook |language=en-US}}
As of 2023, five additional variants have been produced; 1870 Single Barrel (UK), Master Blend Edition, and three rye whiskeys: Straight Rye Whisky, Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey and Single Barrel Rye.{{Cite web |last=Kilgore-Marchetti |first=Nino |date=2022-10-07 |title=Uncle Nearest Releases Its First Ever Rye Whiskey |url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/uncle-nearest-releases-its-first-ever-rye-whiskey/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=The Whiskey Wash |language=en-US}}
Awards and ratings
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|unclenearest.com}}
- Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hshIicm-auk The lost story of the slave who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey] (2017) from CBS This Morning on YouTube.com
{{Alcoholic drinks}}
Category:Distilleries in Tennessee