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.
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