A Single Barrel With a Story: Our First Uncle Nearest Single Barrel

While Uncle Nearest has been one of the most talked-about names in whiskey over the past year, we believe its importance runs deeper than headlines or hype. The story of Nearest Green is foundational to American whiskey, and it deserves to be recognized and revisited.
 
Most readers here already know the whiskey holds up. Bold, traditional, and expressive, it’s a profile that feels right at home alongside other single barrels from brands we admire like Pursuit Spirits, Nashville Barrel Co., and Silverbelly. Today we're bringing you our first Single Barrel from Uncle Nearest.

 Nathan “Nearest” Green is one of the most important figures in whiskey history. A formerly enslaved man, Green was the first known African American master distiller and the teacher of a young Jack Daniel. For generations, his contributions went unrecognized, even as his influence shaped one of the most iconic whiskey brands in the world and the process of Tennessee whiskey as we know it. The rediscovery and elevation of Nearest Green’s story has helped reshape how the industry talks about its past, who receives credit, and whose stories are worth telling.
 
Uncle Nearest Distillery was founded with the mission of restoring that legacy. In doing so, it has become one of the most impactful brands in modern whiskey. It stands as a reminder that honoring the past and pushing the industry forward should always go hand in hand.
 
This 127 proof bourbon carries an 80/10/10 Corn/Rye/Malted barley mashbill, and comes in over 5-years old, while drinking comfortably older than that.
 
The nose is crisp and fruity, with honey-dipped green apples, blackberry, tropical fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, and light vanilla custard.
 
The palate is rich and thick, but dangerous for the proof. Luxardo cherry juice and brown sugar lead, followed by dark, semi-dry, clinging chewiness and just the right amount of tingliness.
 
Lighter stone fruit and vanilla continue to evolve on the palate, leaving a lovely, slightly juicy fruit character behind. The finish remains comfortably complex, carrying sweet oak and gentle spice into a long, silky close that gradually settles into creamy vanilla custard.