Unless you have been living under a rock, there’s no doubt that you have heard of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. The brand officially launched in 2017 after Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver read an article in the New York Times the year before. That article acknowledged that a black man taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. Her interest in the Nearest Green story started a journey that launched a new brand of Tennessee Whiskey.
Since then, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has become the largest selling African-American owned spirit brand in history. According to the website, it is now sold in 50 states, 12 countries, and more than 25,000 stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants. This has made the Nearest Green Distillery a popular destination for whiskey and history fans alike.
Located approximately 60 miles south of downtown Nashville, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, the distillery is housed on a working farm. Upon arrival, visitors instantly relax in the country setting complete with horse stables and barns. As you enter the welcome center, history, and art come alive throughout. Artifacts, oil paintings, and artwork are just a small hint that this brand is more than the whiskey it produces.
The History
Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green was born in 1820, approximately 45 years before the end of the Civil War. He was an enslaved man who was known throughout Lynchburg, Tennessee, and surrounding areas for his whiskey-making ability. He worked on the farm of a preacher by the name of Dan Call, who sold whiskey on the side. In the 1850s, a young boy came to work for Dan Call. The preacher told Nearest to show the boy everything he knew about distilling whiskey. That boy’s legal name was Jasper, and he later purchased Dan Call’s farm. As an adult, he became known as Uncle Jack by his family and Jack Daniel by the rest of the world.
After the Civil War ended, Nearest continued to make his whiskey for Jack Daniel as a freedman. In doing so, he became the first master distiller behind the famous Jack Daniel’s brand until 1884. He is also the first black master distiller of record in the United States. Except for his descendants, and people close to the family, the Nearest Green story was overlooked. Green is the founding father of Tennessee Whiskey. What is now referred to as the Lincoln County process was created using West African techniques. It is also the process that is required to be used for whiskey to legally be called Tennessee Whiskey.
The Distillery Tour and Tasting
This guided tour is with a very knowledgeable guide who can answer a wide range of questions from participants in real-time. The tour starts in a saloon replica that immediately takes guests on a trip back in time. There is a brief historical overview followed by a short film that features actor Jeffrey Wright. The film takes viewers through the history of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green and the whiskey-making process.
Afterward, the tour group will be led over to the bottling house. This is the first opportunity the group is given to walk across the vast grounds and see the architectural details and theme of the distillery. The bottling house is a barn where each whiskey bottle is labeled by hand.
The next stop on the tour is the family tasting room. This is where the group has an opportunity to taste the premium whiskey produced by the distillery. The group is directed to have a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar and provided disposable shot glasses. As each tasting occurs, the guide provides a little background on how each whiskey being tasted earned its name. For example, Uncle Nearest 1884 is named because it is estimated to be the year that Nearest made his last batch of whiskey. Uncle Nearest 1856 is named for the year believed to be the one Nearest perfected the Lincoln County Process. The 1856 is aged 8-14 years and is not only for drinking but also great for baking at 100 proof. It has been used to make pecan pie, homemade ice cream, and even cinnamon rolls. Finally, the Master Blend Edition (MBE), recently spotted in a Gabrielle Union TikTok post, is used mainly to celebrate. This 110.1-proof whiskey is a blend of both the 1856 and 1884. It has only been in production since early 2021. The MBE can only be purchased on-site at the distillery.
Once the tasting is completed, you are allowed to your shot glass but are not allowed to carry any whiskey out. If you do not finish, it will have to be thrown away. The Single Barrel Rickhouse, where all the current barrels are being aged, is the last stop. The guide walks the group through the barrel house where barrels seem to go on forever. The aroma of aging whiskey mixed with charred white oak fills each corner of the barrel house.
The tour concludes at the same place it started, the welcome center. Guests are invited to purchase whiskey, and merchandise or just browse the history along the walls. If they have worked up an appetite, there’s no need to go far. Visitors are invited to grab something to eat at either Chuck’s Barrel House BBQ restaurant or The Humble Baron Bar which has small plates.
The Humble Baron Bar
Who would ever think that the longest bar in the world would be located on a farm in Tennessee? As with everything else that has been born out of the Uncle Nearest brand, The Humble Baron bar is nothing short of amazing. It features a 518-foot bar, that doesn’t have a bad seat in the house. Its proximity to Nashville allows for the bar to book some of the most talented musicians and DJs in the country. The bar posts upcoming events and performances on its social media and website.
It goes without saying the Humble Baron Bar features some amazing top-shelf cocktails featuring Uncle Nearest Whiskey. However, it is a fully stocked bar with mixologists who can make your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage too. Additionally, the bar menu is full of tasty offerings that pair perfectly with any drink order.
The Nearest Green Distillery has something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are a history buff, music lover, foodie, or whiskey connoisseur the distillery has you covered. Of course, if you do enjoy premium whiskey, the distillery should be on your places-to-visit list.
If you go:
- Address: 3125 Highway 231 N., Shelbyville, TN. 37160
- Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
- Distillery – Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
It is recommended to book your tour in advance as they are limited to a specific number of people. The tours also sell out quickly so the sooner you book, the better. If you prefer to have someone else drive, you can book a private whiskey and wine tour here.
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