Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey 750 ml

Uncle Nearest 1884 is the proud legacy of the Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey, Nearest Green. Each small batch comes from barrels chosen by their founders and each blend is curated by 5th generation Green descendant, Master Blender, Victoria Eady Butler. Victoria’s signature can be found on the back of every bottle of Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey. The brand, honoring the first known African American master distiller, launched in 2017 and swiftly rolled out throughout the U.S. and abroad. A fantastic sipper, yet versatile enough for all your favorite cocktails.

Flavor Profile

• Nose: honey, warm brown sugar, cedar, orange peel, tobacco flower, ground ginger and white pepper
• Palate: it warms, showing caramel balanced with spicy wood tannins, with notes of baking chocolate, cigar leaf, nougat and cinnamon
• Finish: long and smooth; the cinnamon lingers with dark chocolate, oak tannins and maple syrup

Awards

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has garnered more than 620 awards and accolades throughout the world since the brand’s July 2017 debut, including the coveted Double Gold award at the 2020, 2021 and 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Uncle Nearest has earned 71 Best in Class honors, including Spirit Brand of the Year from Wine Enthusiast, two Chairman’s Trophies from Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Whisky of the Year from USA Spirits Ratings, the Master Medal from American Whiskey Masters, and back-to-back honors of “World’s Best” from the World Whiskies Awards.

The Story

Nearest Green, affectionately nicknamed Uncle Nearest by his friends and family in Lynchburg, Tennessee, is the world’s first known African American master distiller. Nearest Green is credited with helping perfect the globally recognized Lincoln County Process, which is the defining distinction between Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey. This unique filtering of whiskey through sugar maple charcoal was named after the county where Nearest lived and made his highly regarded Bourbon. 

Nearest Green Distillery is the world's first distillery to commemorate an African American. Dubbed as "Malt Disney World," and named by Travel + Leisure as a "true whiskey destination," the 323-acre property in Shelbyville, Tennessee, has become known as a full-blown destination for whiskey lovers, history enthusiasts, and families. It is a master class in storytelling and historymaking, paying tribute to the three things Tennessee is most known for: Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee Walking Horses and Tennessee Music.

Women in Leadership

Fawn Weaver, CEO & Founder:Weaver serves as the CEO of Uncle Nearest, Inc., a company she founded, that is the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history, and the best-selling African American founded spirit brand of all time. Weaver is a popular TED speaker, as well as a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author who has appeared on 100s of popular radio, morning and television talk shows across the US, including FOX Business, the TODAY Show, New York Times, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, CNBC, Fast Company, Oprah Magazine, Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune0. 

Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender: The great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, the first African-American master distiller on record, Butler is the Master Blender of the award-winning Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey where she oversees the blending process of its 1884 Small Batch Whiskey as well as the selection of all 1820 Single Barrels. In 2021, Victoria was named Master Blender of the Year three times, by Whisky Magazine, VinePair and The Spirits Business, followed by a second award by Whisky Magazine in 2022. She is the first person in history to receive this honor two years in a row. 

Butler blended the very first batch of 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, which launched in July 2019, and was appointed Master Blender in November 2019 after the immense success of the first two batches. Butler has taken many courses to hone her skills, including becoming an Executive Bourbon Steward through Stave & Thief Society in Louisville, KY, the first bourbon certification program recognized by the bourbon industry. The opportunity to carry on her family legacy first-hand and to help to cement Nearest’s name in history was one that she couldn’t pass up.

Kate Jerkens, Chief Business Officer: She oversees all areas of sales, marketing and distribution efforts for the brand globally. With 20+ years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, Jerkens brings a fresh perspective to the spirits world. Her extensive experience leading sales teams and ability to grow and cultivate global companies through her leadership has proven invaluable for the brand, which reached nationwide distribution in less than two years after the initial launch. Under Jerkens, Uncle Nearest has become the fastest-growing independent American whiskey brand in history.

Community Support

• Weaver is the founder of the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers full scholarships to every descendant of Nearest Green, the world’s first known African-American master distiller. 
• Through their Operation Brother’s Keeper initiative, the Foundation supplied more than 300,000 N-95 and cloth masks to workers on the frontline and people in disadvantaged communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• In 2020, in response to the BLM movement, the Foundation formed an alliance with Jack Daniel Distillery to create the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, to elevate people of color within the American whiskey industry and to greatly increase diversity in the spirits industry overall.
•  In 2021, Weaver created the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, a $50 million fund to invest in minority (BIPOC and women) founded, owned and led brands with the greatest potential to grow into long-standing legacy brands.