Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

In 1820, “Nearest” Green was born into slavery and was the property of Reverend Daniel Call of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Call was busy running a grocery store and a still when he wasn't preaching. At some point, he taught young Nearest how to work the still.

 

Nearest was a great student and soon became the nation’s first black master distiller. Call suggested that Nearest made the best whisky of anyone around. In fact, that’s what Call told a 9-year-old Jack Daniel when he approached Call with questions about whisky making. And, so, Uncle Nearest, as he was called, taught Jack what he knew.

 

Uncle Nearest was one of the developers of The Lincoln County Process (LCP), which is the component that makes Tennessee Whisky Tennessee Whisky. The LCP involves filtering the whisky through a stack of sugar maple charcoal, which mellows and softens it.

 

When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and the enslaved people were freed, Uncle Nearest continued to work for Reverend Call. A year later, in 1865, Jack Daniel opened his distillery, and his first two employees, George and Eli, were sons of Uncle Nearest. The cool thing is seven generations of Greens have worked at Jack Daniel’s!

 

If you want to read up on Nearest’s life, there is an excellent book called Love and Whiskey by Fawn Weaver, the founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. My review of her book is at this link.

 

Weaver partnered with Victoria Eady Butler, who is not only the distillery’s master blender but also a fifth-generation descendant of Uncle Nearest. She was also named Master Blender of the Year by Whisky Magazine. Not once, not twice, but four times! She was the first to win the award back-to-back.

 

Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey is the brand’s newest release. It is designed to be very approachable.

 

“Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey captures the spirit of my great-great-grandfather, Nearest Green, while still upholding our pillars of excellence and unmatched quality. With this new brand, we’re not just expanding our offerings—we’re expanding the Uncle Nearest family, reaching new consumers who may not consider spending more than $50 on a bottle. Our goal is simple: To make Nearest Green a household name, bringing people together to honor our past while embracing the future of Tennessee Whiskey.” – Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender

 

Packaged at 42% ABV (84°) and priced at $29.95 for a 750ml, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey is available via its online store, at the distillery in Shelbyville, or bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in Tennessee and then beyond.

 

I am grateful to Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey for this #DrinkCurious opportunity and for providing me a sample of Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into a Glencairn glass to sip neat. The liquid inside was brassy. It created a thinner rim that shed thick, fast tears.

 

Nose: Nearest Green’s aroma was nutty, with pecans, peanuts, and almonds. Next came corn, caramel, and light oak. Drawing the air through my lips exposed my mouth to field corn.  

 

Palate: I encountered a creamy, thick mouthfeel and held it for several moments (would that be a Tennessee chew?). There was no ethanol warmth whatsoever. The front of my palate found corn, vanilla, and apricots. The middle offered honey and lemon peel. The back spotlighted charcoal, oak, and pecans.

 

Finish: This is where Nearest Green reminded me that I was drinking whiskey. While there was no burn, there was black pepper spice. The finish also featured honey, pecans, and charred oak. I found the pecans held on the longest. I timed the duration at 1:40, placing it in a medium-long venue.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: As I’ve been working a lot with higher-proofed whiskeys, I was expecting relatively muted notes from Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey. That wasn’t the case, and that proves Victoria Eady Butler’s remarkable skill. While this could hold its own in a cocktail, reserving it for mixing would be a huge mistake. For $30.00, you’re getting a Tennessee Whiskey with real character. It deserves my Bottle rating, and I believe you’ll agree once you taste it yourself. Cheers!    

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.