Nathan "Nearest" Green
Nathan "Nearest" Green | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1820 United States |
| Died | post-1880 |
| Occupation | Distiller |
| Known for | First documented African-American master distiller in the U.S.; mentor to Jack Daniel |
Nathan "Nearest" Green (1820 – post-1880), occasionally misspelled as "Nearis," was a distinguished American distiller of the 19th century. Born into slavery and freed following the American Civil War, he instructed Jack Daniel, the founder of the Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey brand, in distillation methods. Green was employed as the inaugural master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery and is recognized as the earliest documented African-American master distiller in the United States.
Biography
During the 1850s, a young Jack Daniel was employed by Dan Call, who was a preacher, grocer, and distiller. While company tradition credits Call with teaching Daniel how to operate his whiskey still, a 2016 The New York Times report revealed that Green—one of Call’s enslaved workers—was likely Daniel’s actual instructor. Historians have acknowledged Green’s influence based on oral traditions and scarce documentation. A 2017 USA Today article confirmed that Daniel referred to his mentor as Nathan "Nearest" Green.
Green was owned by Landis & Green, who probably leased him to Call. After emancipation, Green remained working alongside Call. Call introduced Green to the young Daniel, praising him as "the best whiskey maker I know," and entrusted Green with training Daniel to become "the world's best whiskey distiller." In his role as master distiller, Green imparted comprehensive knowledge about operating the still.
Although some critics argue that Daniel appropriated Green’s recipe without proper recognition, historical records indicate that Daniel never owned slaves and openly acknowledged Green as his mentor. Known affectionately as "Uncle Nearest," Green was also known for his lively personality and fiddle playing—a talent inherited by his son Jesse.
Following the abolition of slavery in 1865, Daniel established his distillery in 1866 and hired several of Green’s sons—George, Eli, and Edde—with four grandchildren subsequently joining the workforce. Seven generations of Green’s family have been employed at Jack Daniel Distillery, with three direct descendants still on staff as of 2017.
Nathan Green was married to Harriet Green; together they had eleven children. Census data from 1870 lists four sons—Louis, George, Jesse, and Eli—while records from 1880 show seven sons along with two daughters.
Legacy
Author Fawn Weaver founded the Nearest Green Foundation to commemorate Nearest Green’s contributions by creating a museum, memorial park, and publishing a biography about his life. The foundation also offers college scholarships to Green’s descendants.
In July 2017, Uncle Nearest, Inc. launched a whiskey brand paying tribute to Green: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey. This product was developed in collaboration with two Tennessee distilleries, excluding Jack Daniel Distillery.
In August 2017, Brown-Forman Corporation, owner of Jack Daniel's, formally acknowledged Green as its first head stiller (now known as master distiller) and featured him on its official website. By October of that year, Brown-Forman integrated his story into official tours and exhibits at the Jack Daniel's Visitors Center.
In September 2017, the Nearest Green Foundation awarded its first full scholarships to descendants pursuing higher education; these scholarships were funded through proceeds from Uncle Nearest whiskey sales and the authorized biography Jack Daniel's Legacy.
Victoria Eady Butler—the Master Blender for Uncle Nearest and a descendant of Nathan Green—is recognized as the first known African-American female whiskey master blender.
External links
- Nearest Green Foundation
- Video: The untold story of the enslaved man who instructed Jack Daniel in whiskey crafting (2017) from CBS This Morning on YouTube.com