Industry News

Uncle Nearest: Best in the World

Feb. 27, 2020

On February 12th, luminaries from the world of American whiskey gathered in New York to celebrate the spirit, the industry, and the best of the best. For the second year in a row, Uncle Nearest took home the coveted World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey award, this time for Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey.

This win built upon last year’s victory in the same category for Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey and came on the same night that Uncle Nearest’s beloved brand ambassador Adina “Sailor” Guevara took home award for Brand Ambassador of the Year. It was a big night for Uncle Nearest and demonstrated the brand’s upward trajectory in the industry.

The Nearest Green Distillery, creator of both the award-winning 1820 and 1856 expressions, is named in honor of Nathan “Nearest” Green, a distiller and freed slave who was a founding influence on Tennessee whiskey. The company only launched in 2017, but has already amassed an impressive trophy case, including 50 top awards from spirits competitions and industry publications at home and around the world. Among those wins, according to a release from the company, includes 10 Best in Class and Best in Show awards, and 25 Platinum, Double Gold and Gold medals. In addition, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible rated the brand's 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey a 94.5, the highest score for a Tennessee whiskey or bourbon. Murray was joined by the more than 10 other industry leaders who rated Uncle Nearest's three labels between 90-96, with an overall industry-wide rating of 92.6, according to Nearest Green Distillery.

"Our team works from before sunrise to well after sunset every day sharing the legacy of our namesake, Nearest Green, the first-known African-American master distiller," said Kate Jerkens, Senior Vice President of Sales for Uncle Nearest. "We are incredibly proud of the work we are doing in this industry and could not be more honored that the World Whiskies Awards bestowed this honor upon us not once, but two times in a row."

To learn more about Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey, or to place your order among from the full lineup of award-winning whiskies from Nearest Green Distillery, contact your Breakthru Sales Consultant.