Connections Through a Cold Hard Drink: A Nearest Green Retrospective (Caitlyn Oppong ’29)

    Past the deep blue waters of Nickjack Lake and the grandiose farmhouses that line the plains of Shelbyville, Tennessee lies a hidden gem: the Uncle Nearest Distillery. Unbeknownst to me and my honors peers, we would embark on a remarkable journey not only through the unsung history of Nearest Green but of a generational love story united by whiskey. Much like Nearest Green Co-Founder and fellow Angeleno Keith Weaver, I also had my preconceived notions regarding the history of Tennessee whiskey. Prior to reading Love and Whiskey by Co-Founder and CEO of Nearest Green, Fawn Weaver, I did not know what to expect. For decades, Jack Daniels has been the face of Tennessee whiskey, with the image of one white man becoming the greatest distiller of all time perfecting his craft solely with his grit and ingenuity. 

    Reading and learning about Black trailblazers that leave indelible marks on American history is important, but being able to physically see the legacy left behind is a gift that not many are able to experience. With many of the original structures of the original Call Farm that Nearest mastered his craft, I could deeply feel his presence and legacy surrounding the compound. From the original millstone Nearest used to craft his first whiskeys to the photos of his descendants such as Jesse and Mattie Green that line the walls; each part of Nearest Green was designed to not only honor the man but the family that took the reins to continue his calling. Coming from Atlanta, when thinking of places in which Black creativity has thrived in the south, Shelbyville would not be the first place to come to mind. The Uncle Nearest Distillery was like a gateway into the world of whiskey, an ode to Black history and the drink that forever changes Tennessee. 

    The continued history of the Uncle Nearest Distillery exhibits a labor of love from not just Uncle Nearest and his descendants but from Fawn and Keith Weaver alongside the distillery team. From the beginning of the distillery, the Weavers attempt to incorporate the authenticity of Nearest Green’s legacy into their business. Bringing Nearest Green’s great-granddaughter Victoria Eady Butler as their master distiller and consulting the Green family regarding the distillery, the Weavers keep the quality of their liquor and business true to the spirit of Nearest Green. Discussing the start of their distillery journey, Weaver writes, “Between starting the Nearest Green Foundation, buying the Dan Call Farm, and this, it would mean we were probably never going to leave Tennessee. It was a big decision, with our families back in LA, and we’d be leaving everything behind that we loved” (Weaver 149). Fawn and Keith Weaver exhibit an innate passion and love for Nearest Green from the way in which each employee from corporate to our tour guides are given a transparent view of the inner workings of the business. On my tour, we were given a more intimate and vulnerable look into both the triumphs and occasional struggles in the distillery. From aging and bottling right on their compound to keeping the original walking horses and stables on the distillery, the Weavers have been determined to honor the Green legacy in any way they can. 

    Within the book, Weaver dives into some of the challenges the distillery has overcame early into their establishment. In times such as the recent 2020 pandemic, the Weavers were defiant in the face of shutdowns and immediately turned to help their community. In the epilogue Weaver writes, “We committed to our team members that COVID or no COVID, revenue or no revenue, people were going to get paid. There was no question about shutting down our business. We didn’t lay off anyone” (Weaver 273). Success to them was not solely defined by revenue, but by recognition of the legacy of Nearest Green and the numerous staff that continue to help them share that legacy. As entrepreneurs, they are not only dedicated into providing the best product to consumers but making sure that their distillery family continue to be supported during the toughest of times. Knowing that Nearest Green is one of the few Black-Owned distilleries in the world, the Weavers hope to inspire others to share their stories and passion for amplifying Black voices in the whiskey business and in entrepreneurial spaces. 

    Visiting Nearest Green has given me a wider perspective of Tennessee, not only as a place of origin for blues and country music, but as a cultural melting pot in which Black culture continues to thrive. I now view whiskey as not only a drink, but with each sip a taste of the rich and diverse faces of Black American history. Without this trip and the opportunity to read this book, I would have never known how essential Uncle Nearest Distillery was in shaping the whiskey business and the United States as whole into what it is today. This retreat has given me a newfound appreciation for the art of distilling and has given me hope that more individuals such as Fawn and Keith Weaver will continue to take the helm of brining this unsung chapters in Black history to life.  

Love Story Evidence

The love that my honors sisters and I have developed for Uncle Nearest Distillery is almost indescribable, with our appreciation for this hidden gem growing each day. 

Complication or Tension

The distillery's ode to the fine line between heritage and morality are on display in this modern speakeasy, reminiscent of a chapel with it's intricate stain glass windows. 

Brand vs. History

Though within his lifetime Uncle Nearest was not known widely for his talents by the general public. The multitude of awards that line the walls now honors Nearest Green, giving him the flowers he never fully received.