Fawn Weaver’s book sheds light on Nearest Green’s legacy and the rise of Uncle Nearest

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice “We wanted this to be a unique experience,” said Uncle Nearest Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler as she stood alongside her CEO, Fawn Weaver, for the Atlanta stop on Weaver’s book tour for “Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest.” The third stop of the tour, which took place at the “Hotel of Hope,” the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta on Friday, June 21, showcased Weaver’s journey to building Uncle Nearest. The book, on sale since June 18, honors the first known Black Master Distiller, Nearest Green, who was the mentor for Jack Daniel. You could hear a pin drop as Weaver discussed her life story: running away from home at 15, her attempted suicides, and her subsequent fearlessness in the boardroom. She talked about the challenges faced by newcomers in the spirits industry, explaining how conglomerates have long controlled the alcohol market in the U.S., making it difficult for new entrants to gain a foothold. Weaver recounted a civil war within Jack Daniel’s parent company, Brown-Forman, over her story. Half of the company saw the stories of Nearest...