(Photo: Uncle Nearest)
Hot off the debut of founder Fawn Weaver’s New York Times best-seller “Love & Whiskey,” Uncle Nearest has unveiled the first in a series of exclusive bottlings that give drinkers access to unreleased chapters of the book.
On Friday, the Tennessee distillery rolled out Lost Chapter 1 – 777, a 7-year-old barrel-strength whiskey bottled between 110 and 120 proof. Designed as an homage to Uncle Nearest’s seventh anniversary, the bottling has been limited to just 7,000 bottles available at $139 each. In keeping with its name, each customer who buys a bottle gets access to a copy of “Love & Whiskey,” alongside a download link to its never-before-seen “first lost chapter.”
Though the contents of the chapter remain a mystery for the time being, the spirit itself is less elusive. The brand says to expect flavors of bittersweet chocolate, black pepper, tobacco, dried orange peel and vanilla. Victoria Eady Butler, master blender and fifth-generation descendant of Nearest Green, said of the bottling:
“This new release is a testament to our commitment to excellence, as we waited seven years to bottle this whiskey at the perfect time. I hope y’all will enjoy this special barrel strength blend while reading the rich story of our brand and the profound history of my great-great-grandfather. I just know he’d love this one.”
About Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Uncle Nearest was founded in 2016. It’s dedicated to Nathan “Nearest” Green, the 19th-century whiskey pioneer who taught Jack Daniel himself how to make whiskey. Much of Weaver’s new book is about Green and Weaver’s journey to learn more about the overlooked distilling icon.
Green, regarded as the first African-American master distiller on record in the U.S., reportedly taught Daniel everything he knew about distillation. Born into slavery and emancipated after the American Civil War, Green’s contribution to the category had largely been scrubbed from the record until the late 2010s, when a historical reappraisal unearthed reams of supporting backstory from Tennessee locals.
In August 2017, the Brown-Forman Corporation officially recognized Green as its first master distiller.
Weaver has commemorated that legacy not only with Uncle Nearest Whiskey but also the Nearest Green Foundation, a nonprofit responsible for a museum, memorial park and college scholarship fund for Green’s descendants.
“I’ve been absolutely floored by the reception of Love & Whiskey – grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Weaver shared in a news release. “We’ve sold out tour stops across the country, and bookstores can’t seem to keep it stocked as the book continues to fly off the shelves. So, I’m thrilled to be sharing another piece of the Uncle Nearest story as we celebrate seven years.”
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