Hear the story of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the master distiller who taught Jack Daniel how to make Tennessee Whiskey–from his great-great granddaughter, Victoria Eady Butler. And sample some of the award-winning spirits with Molly Wellmann.

6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
$15 members/$25 nonmembers
Must be 21 years of age to attend.
Reservations required via online ticketing, calling 513-621-0717, or emailing reservations@mercantilelibrary.com

Nathan “Nearest” Green, known by those in his hometown of Lynchburg, Tennessee, as Uncle Nearest, was the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States. He was also the first head stiller, now commonly referred to as master distiller, for Jack Daniel Distillery. He is now recognized by the distillery as having taught a young Jack Daniel how to make Tennessee Whiskey. Green is also thought to have helped perfect the Lincoln County Process, a special sugar maple charcoal filtering method required to be considered Tennessee Whiskey, named after the county in which he lived and made whiskey.

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is inspired by the best whiskey-maker the world never knew, the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States, Nathan “Nearest” Green. The Uncle Nearest brand, wholly owned by Uncle Nearest, Inc., encompasses Premium Aged and Tennessee Silver products, distilled, aged, bottled and hand-labeled in Tennessee using locally sourced grains. Uncle Nearest is an award-winning spirit, garnering 13 medals in 13 months, including a Double Gold Medal at the China Wine and Spirits Awards, a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, two Gold Medals at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. Cigar & Spirits Magazine also named it one of the Top 5 Whiskies in the World and was one of two brands to take home the top prize of “World’s Best” at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards produced by Whisky Magazine.