Nearest Green Distillery: Shelbyville, Tennessee
Updated: 11 hours ago
Nearest Green Distillery is in Shelbyville, Tennessee. It is the home of the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey brand and is named after Nathan "Nearest" Green.
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Nearest Green at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Nearest Green |
Country and region | Tennessee, United States |
Owner / background | Uncle Nearest premium whiskey business |
Historical context | Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery production |
Whisky identity | Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery production |
Visitor information | Check the official operator's website for currently available tours and visitor access. |
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The man behind the name
Nathan "Nearest" Green was a formerly enslaved man who taught a young Jack Daniel how to make Tennessee whiskey. Wikipedia reports that he was acknowledged in 2016 as the first African American master distiller on record in the United States, and that he was instrumental in developing the Lincoln County Process, the sugar maple charcoal filtering method used for most Tennessee whiskey.
The brand and the distillery
Uncle Nearest, Inc. launched the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey brand in July 2017. It was founded by Fawn Weaver and Keith Weaver, and its first whiskey, Nathan Green 1870 Single Barrel, was announced in October 2018. In 2019 the company named Victoria Eady Butler, a descendant of Nathan Green, as master blender.
The first phase of Nearest Green Distillery opened on 14 September 2019, with a welcome house, a bottling house and a working farm. After a year long closure during the pandemic it reopened on Juneteenth 2021 with additions including a single barrel rickhouse and a restaurant. Wikipedia describes it as the first distillery in the United States named after a Black person.
Recent changes
Wikipedia reports that in August 2025 a judge placed Uncle Nearest in receivership after it defaulted on loans of more than 100 million dollars, taking control away from the Weavers. It adds that Fawn and Keith Weaver were fired from the company on 1 June 2026. This situation may have moved on, so check current news before relying on it.
Further reading
Official website: unclenearest.com
Source: Wikipedia, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, read 21 October 2026.
What makes Nearest Green distinctive?
Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery production
Nearest Green whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery… |
Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery… |
Bottles and editions listed above are documented expressions or historical associations, not live stock or guaranteed current distillery production. Confirm dates, strengths and provenance with the producer.
Inside Nearest Green
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Frequently asked questions about Nearest Green
Where is Nearest Green based?
Tennessee, United States.
Who owns or operates Nearest Green?
Uncle Nearest premium whiskey business.
What is distinctive about Nearest Green?
Tennessee whiskey business honouring Nathan Nearest Green; bottled liquid origin must be distinguished from distillery production.
Which whiskies are documented?
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey, Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey. Editions and market availability may differ.
Can you visit Nearest Green?
Check the current official distillery website for tour and visitor arrangements.
Sources and editorial notes
Original research and source links have been preserved. Ownership, production, release schedules and visiting information may change.
Production provenance: the distillery site and the origins of individual Uncle Nearest bottled whiskies should be checked separately.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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