Uncle Nearest at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022

Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, TN

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, named for Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green, continues to rack up awards in 2022. Recently competing in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022, Uncle Nearest’s three entries garnered recognition with all scoring 91 or above. As the year rolls on and more awards are announced, I'm confident that Uncle Nearest will add 2022 to their statement of “The Most Awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021.” Fawn Weaver, Victoria Eady Butler, and the crew at Nathan Greene Distillery show no signs of slowing down.

Below are the results for Uncle Nearest in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022, including tasting notes provided by the judges.

Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 009

Age: 11 Years Old

Type: Tennessee Whiskey (United States)

Proof: 62.2% abv

Price: $149.00

Size: 750 ml

SCORE: 95 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation

Tasting Notes: Lavish aromas of fresh baked pie crust, caramelized pecans, peaches, and toffee give way to notes of fresh thyme and a whisper of eucalyptus. On the palate, rich butter, maple, fresh baked cracked wheat and the interminable oak finish that leaves you desiring more.

Uncle Nearest 1856 

Age: 4 Years Old

Type: Tennessee Whiskey (United States)

Proof: 50% abv

Price: $59.00

Size: 750 ml

SCORE: 93 Excellent, Highly Recommended

Tasting Notes: Warm and invigorating aromas of spice cake, pastry crust, and sweet tobacco leaf are layered and complex. The balanced flavors are rich with baking spices, a touch of kola nut, and maple. The finish leaves the palate perfumed with the sweet spice.

Uncle Nearest 1884

Age: 4 Years Old

Type: Tennessee Whiskey (United States)

Proof: 46.5% abv

Price: $49.00

Size: 750 ml

SCORE: 91 Excellent, Highly Recommended

Tasting Notes: Shows a bombastic bouquet of vanilla custard, orange sorbet, baked banana, and decadent baking spices. The palate echoes these indulgent flavors and is brightly balanced by a note of star anise and a streak of cool menthol.

Once again, congratulations Nearest Greene Distillery! If you haven't yet tried Uncle Nearest, what are you waiting for? Go grab a bottle now. For more information on Uncle Nearest's offerings, the Nearest Greene Distillery, and other information, please go to their website here. 

Nathan Green 1870 UPDATE

Labels from the TTB Online COLA Registry

Just a quick update on the Nathan Green 1870 Premium Whiskey from Uncle Nearest. I reached out to the distillery and haven’t heard anything back yet. But I did hear from Fawn Weaver, the CEO and co-founder of Uncle Nearest, on Instagram. She was kind enough to let me know that since this is cask strength, the proof for each barrel will vary. Even though they got the label approval on January 14, according to Ms. Weaver, “it is not releasing soon. We just got our labels approved for when we do release it later this year.” She also went on to say, “What I will say is we like to drop special gifts for our whiskey family on our bday. Last year it was 1884. Who knows what it will be this year…”? Could she be hinting at a possible July release? When I informed her that I had reached out to her assistant for more information, I had to laugh at one of my favorite responses ever. “I am the only one that has that… and my lips are sealed!” Ms. Weaver replied.

So, it looks like we will have to wait for more information from Uncle Nearest about the 1870. But thank you Fawn for what information you did give us. Oh, and sorry for letting the cat out of the bag. Apparently when I posted the labels on Instagram, her social media manager reached out asking. I posted it before she had a chance to announce it internally. Umm… my bad! While we all wait, make sure you check out one of Uncle Nearest's earlier releases. Grab a bottle of 1856, 1884 or 1820 and raise a glass to Nathan "Uncle Nearest" Green (and Fawn Weaver) who made them all possible.

Until next time,

I'm Back and Nathan Green 1870

That's right bourbonites and meaders, I'm back. Sorry for the long absence but it was unavoidable. I’ve been battling some very serious health issues and I’m still not over them but I am going to try to get this place back up and running. So hopefully I will be able to regularly update the blog and keep you entertained with news from the bourbon and mead world.

If you have read any of the previous posts, you know that I really like Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey. I have reviewed a couple of their expressions on here and even talked about another release (which I will review also). Well folks, I couldn’t think of a better way to kick the blog back off than to tell you that the Nearest Green Distillery is preparing to release a new expression. This distillery only release is a cask strength (114.8 proof/57.4% ABV) 15-year Tennessee Whiskey called Nathan Green 1870 Tennessee Whiskey.

Labels courtesy of the TTB Online COLA Registry

As of this post, I do not know when this release will be available at the distillery and I also don’t know of any tasting notes. But rest assured, I will do my best to find out as much as I can and whatever I find out I will post here and on social media.

Until the next time,