A 7-year-old minimum whiskey, Uncle Nearest 1884 commemorates the final year Nearest is believed to have put his own whiskey into barrels before retiring from distilling. Lighter bodied and lower proof than previous offerings from Uncle Nearest, this shows a more elegant and easy going side to the brand's profile. Fresh churned butter and honey on toast open an especially welcoming and homey nose, leading to a slightly woody palate with an agave like sweetness with floral accents. Finish is subtle and medium-long, inviting you back for more.
The Uncle Nearest distillery is located in Shelbyville, Tenn. The famously small town is where Nathan "Nearest" Green lived and made whiskey in what was then known as Lincoln County. Born into slavery and emancipated after the Civil War, Green is known as the master distiller who taught distilling techniques to Jack Daniel, whom you may have heard of. Green was hired as the first master distiller for Jack Daniel Distillery, and he was the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States. The company now owns the 313-acre farm where the original Jack Daniel Distillery was located, and where Green first taught Daniel the art of making Tennessee whiskey. As their own whiskey ages, they are working with two local distilleries making Tennessee whiskey, barreling close to the same 110-proof Nearest was known for, and bottling at just the right age.
