LET'S TALK ABOUT TENNESSEE WHISKEY

We present you the story of Nearest Green, the first known Black master distiller in history - and the man who taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling whiskey. For a long time, Dan Call, a Lynchburg Tennessee reverend, was credited with teaching young Jack the art of whiskey distillation. As a result, Nearest's craftsmanship - although not altogether erased - was underemphasised.

In 2016, on the 150th anniversary of the Jack Daniel's brand, Brown-Forman - the company which owns the Jack Daniel's distillery - made the decision to publicly reveal that it was in fact Nearest, not Rev Call, who had taught Daniel. In 2017, he was acknowledged by the company as the first master distiller behind the JD brand, with Daniel as the second.

Their decision, though welcomed, was also received with scepticism by critics who questioned the intention - with some suspecting it was just a marketing ploy to cash in on the growing awareness of the critical role of enslaved African labour in distilleries and other US businesses.

Nonetheless, Nearest’s story caught the attention of entrepreneur and author Fawn Weaver (@FawnWeaver on X, @Fawn.Weaver on Instagram), who committed to honouring Nearest's legacy. She bought the farm out in Tennessee where Daniel learned under his apprenticeship and created the Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest, which finally saw Nearest's name make it onto the label in 2017.

Sources

https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-nearest-green-americas-first-known-black-master-distiller-164311

https://www.theimpactmagazine.com/lifestyle/legacy-unveiled-nearest-greens-triumph-from-slavery-to-excellence-a-tale-resonating-with-black-resilience/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr0oseCa5Xs