La-Tessa
If you’ve not yet heard about Nearest Green or his legendary contributions to Tennessee whiskey making, then let me give you the highlights. Nathan Green, or Uncle Nearest as he was known, was a former slave who initially worked for Dan Call making whiskey. It was here that he met and began mentoring an 8 year old boy named Jack.
Yes, that Jack.
He went on to teach Jack everything he knew about distilling whiskey, eventually became the first master distiller for Jack Daniels.
Nearsest’s impact and involvement with whiskey production, while an open secret in the area, was largely lost to public. That is, until Fawn Weaver came across his story 2016 & decided to shine a light on his life and legacy. Nearest is noted as the first black distiller in the US. He perfected the Lincoln County Process, a charcoal filtering process, which ultimately defines what Tennessee whiskey is today.
This is hands down, one of the funnest, most informative, and hands on distillery tours I’ve ever been on. We had a great time on the tour and the grounds are beautiful. There is so much history to be explored at the Nearest Green Distillery and you get an up close and personal look at most of it. You can tell that everyone there is proud of the legacy they are continuing by producing some truly excellent whiskey.
And what better way to cap off an awesome Nashville GNO weekend than with a tour of the Nearest Green Distillery and some of the best Tennessee whiskey you drink?
Nothing I tell you. Absolutely nothing.
But don’t just take my word for it, check out my complete tour of the Nearest Green Distillery, including a tasting of 3 delicious bottles of Uncle Nearest whiskey, a tour of the grounds, and meeting the founder’s husband.
Oh, and did I mention the Nathan Green story is narrated by the one and only Jeffrey Wright? Yes, that Emmy award winning Jeffery Wright.
Other Uncle Nearest features: Uncle Nearest Holiday Cocktails
