Contemporary research (or re-writing history, depending on your viewpoint) indicates that Jack Daniel learned to distil whiskey from a Lynchburg preacher’s slave, Nathan Green. Fawn Weaver, an African-American woman who is an investor and author (“Happy Wives Club”) purchased the preacher’s former home in Lynchburg and started Uncle Nearest, Inc. Since, in 2019, it is too soon for a quality whiskey distillery started in 2017. Uncle Nearest markets product from distillers in Nashville under the Uncle Nearest brand name until they build their own distillery in Shelbyville. The distillers use Tennessee grains, a special yeast strain, double distillation, the exclusive Lincoln County process, and new American oak barrels with no age statement. Uncle Nearest 1856 has a bronze or dark amber appearance with a hint of red. The nose is rich followed by charcoal and sweetness of maple. Nearest has a smooth palate with caramel, corn, and apple. The sweetness transitions to a spicy oak blend. The spice flow through the finish and mixes with caramel.  Unclear Nearest 1856 is a quality Tennessee whiskey, but is priced higher than comparable whiskies. I will wait to purchase another until the price drops about $20/bottle because the lore is compelling but not worth that premium.