Uncle Nearest Single Barrel

Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich aromas of dried pears, warm vanilla, and baking spices like cinnamon and gingerbread
Palate: Full-bodied and potent, delivering a powerful blend of rich caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted oak with a lingering nuttiness
Finish: Long and commanding, with enduring warmth and layers of spicy sweetness, leather, and toffee

Meet the Founder: Fawn Weaver

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey was founded by Fawn Weaver, an entrepreneur, author, and historian who launched the brand to cement the legacy of Nathan "Nearest" Green. Weaver's journey began when she read a New York Times article about the enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey but had been largely left out of the history books. Determined to right this wrong, she moved to Lynchburg, Tennessee, to interview Green's descendants and uncover the truth.

Weaver became the first African American woman to head a major spirits brand, building Uncle Nearest into the most successful Black-owned distillery in the world. She didn't just build a brand; she built a movement. Under her leadership, the company established the Nearest Green Foundation, which provides full college scholarships to all of Green's verified descendants. Her work ensures that the man who pioneered the Tennessee whiskey style is finally recognized as the godfather of the category.

FAQs

What makes this Black-owned whiskey unique?
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel is unique because it honors Nathan "Nearest" Green, the formerly enslaved man who is the first known African American master distiller on record. Unlike standard batches, this expression is bottled at barrel strength, meaning it is undiluted and unfiltered (except for the charcoal mellowing), offering the purest taste of the whiskey exactly as it aged in the barrel.

How should I drink Uncle Nearest Single Barrel?
Due to its high proof (often over 118 proof), this whiskey is best approached with respect. It is excellent sipped neat for those who love a bold spirit, but adding a few drops of water or a large ice cube is highly recommended to "open up" the whiskey, taming the heat and revealing deeper notes of fruit and chocolate.

Why does the label say "Premium Whiskey" instead of "Tennessee Whiskey"?
While the whiskey meets all legal requirements to be called Tennessee Whiskey (produced in TN, 51% corn, charcoal mellowed), the brand often uses "Premium Whiskey" to distinguish itself as a top-tier product. However, it is unmistakably a Tennessee Whiskey in style and craft, made using the very techniques Nearest Green helped perfect.

Who was Nearest Green?
Nearest Green was an enslaved man in the mid-1800s who worked at the Dan Call farm in Tennessee. He was a skilled distiller who taught a young orphan named Jack Daniel the art of making whiskey, specifically the charcoal filtering method (Lincoln County Process) that defines Tennessee whiskey today. He eventually became the first master distiller for the Jack Daniel Distillery after the Civil War.

Standard Shipping
We ship to most U.S. states, except MI, UT, SD, and TN. Orders typically process within 2–3 business days. Shipping costs are calculated at checkout.