How did Uncle Nearest get started, and what does it look like now?

It began as a small craft premium whiskey brand with a team of three people crisscrossing this country to introduce it bottle by bottle. We’re now the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history, the most-awarded American whiskey (which includes Bourbon, of course) of 2019, 2020 and 2021 to date.

Tell us about Uncle Nearest products. What makes them special?

We follow the processes that Nearest Green, the world’s first known African American master distiller, used when he was making whiskey in the 19th century. Our whiskey goes through a special filtration through sugar maple charcoal called the Lincoln County Process. This process, which was named after the county in which Nearest lived and made his whiskey, removes congeners and fusel oils (aka the stuff that gives you headaches), creates a smoothness in the whiskey distillate prior to it being placed in the barrel to age. Then our whiskey is aged in charred American white oak barrels for a minimum of 7 years. Once released from the barrels, the whiskey is blended to perfection by fifth generation Nearest Green descendant and our Master Blender, Victoria Eady Butler. It then goes through two additional filtration steps, one of which utilizes natural carbon from coconut shells, which creates wonderfully full-bodied whiskey that goes down remarkably smooth. We have received Double Gold and won Best Whiskey at nearly every major competition we’ve entered this year, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Ascot Awards, the Bartender’s Spirit Awards, and most recently, the John Barleycorn Awards.

What is it like being an African American owner of a Spirits brand and building a company in this industry?

It’s amazing. I get to do something no one before me has ever done as an African American founder and owner -- succeed in this business. That’s both mind-blowing and an incredible honor.

What’s the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur?

You’re never going to please everyone. An entrepreneur has to be okay with knowing they can only do the best they can do, and that they must do what is in the best stewardship of their company. Oftentimes it will not align with how others believe you should do things. Doubling down, based on your gut, is very risky…but every successful entrepreneur will tell you that’s the only way to succeed.

What are some great food pairings with your products?

Everything. You can’t go wrong with a great steak, which is why Uncle Nearest is found in most top steakhouses in the U.S. □