Latest news with #UncleNearest
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Uncle Nearest whiskey brand sued by lender
Uncle Nearest, the Tennessee whiskey brand that's enjoyed a meteoric rise since it launched a decade ago, was hit with a $108 million federal lawsuit last week from a lender that helped finance its expansion. Why it matters: The lawsuit calls into question the future of the Shelbyville-based spirits company. Zoom in: The plaintiff, a Kentucky-based agricultural lending cooperative called Farm Credit Mid-America, claims Uncle Nearest is in default on its loan agreement. Farm Credit Mid-America filed the suit in the Eastern Tennessee federal court and asked that a judge appoint a receiver to oversee Uncle Nearest's financial operations. State of play: According to the lawsuit, Uncle Nearest failed to pay back loans and lines of credit that Farm Credit Mid-America provided. The lawsuit also alleges that the distillery did not provide detailed reports about its business operations, as required by its loan agreement. Uncle Nearest executives and co-founders Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith Weaver, are named as defendants. The other side: In a response filed this week, Uncle Nearest disputed the need for a receiver. The company called the plaintiff's lawsuit "salacious and inaccurate." Uncle Nearest attributed its financial predicament to "fraudulent activity" by a top executive, who the company has since fired. That executive was not named as a defendant. Uncle Nearest claims in its filing that it made "good faith" efforts to resolve the default, including millions of dollars in repayments last year. In a social media post, Fawn Weaver again denied the claims in the lawsuit and called on Uncle Nearest fans to rally around the company. She pointed to states like Texas and Georgia, where she says the company is enjoying growth.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elevating Your Excellence: Fawn Weaver's Entrepreneurial Vision Forges A Legacy Beyond Whiskey
Fawn Weaver, a name now synonymous with groundbreaking enterprise and profound historical tribute, presides over Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. This venture has burgeoned into the fastest-growing whiskey brand in American history. Her Tennessee-based company stands as a living testament to Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller whose unparalleled expertise laid the very foundation for Jack Daniel's whiskey. Weaver's narrative, chronicled in her book Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest (2024), intertwines personal passion with a mission of historical rectification. Since 2017, Weaver, alongside her husband, Keith, has become one of Tennessee's most substantial Black landowners, commanding a vast expanse exceeding 800 acres [Source: Company Information, Uncle Nearest Official Site]. Her strategic financial philosophy deliberately eschews large-scale venture capital and private equity infusions, favoring instead a mosaic of smaller investments. This calculated approach ensures her unwavering control over the burgeoning enterprise, a distinct anomaly in the spirits industry, which colossal conglomerates often dominate. 'The only 'big guy' behind this brand is my 6'4' husband, Keith,' Weaver frequently quips, underscoring the brand's independent spirit. Before her monumental foray into whiskey, Weaver cultivated a formidable reputation as a shrewd real estate investor and achieved widespread acclaim as a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author. Her literary contributions include Happy Wives Club: One Woman's Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage (2014) and The Argument-Free Marriage: 28 Days to Creating the Marriage You've Always Wanted with the Spouse You Already Have (2015). Her multifaceted entrepreneurial journey spans over a quarter-century, commencing with the founding of a public relations and special events firm in 1996. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey's ascent has been meteoric, expanding from a single state to all 50 states and 12 countries within its initial two years. It stands as the most awarded American whiskey of 2019, 2020, and 2021, earning 'World's Best' by Whisky Magazine for two consecutive years and the coveted Double Gold by San Francisco World Spirits Competition, culminating in Wine Enthusiast's Spirit Brand of the Year for 2020. This unparalleled success has positioned Uncle Nearest as the best-selling African American-founded spirit brand of all time. Beyond commercial triumph, Weaver's vision extends to profound philanthropic endeavors. She established the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing full scholarships to every descendant of Nearest Green. During the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation's 'Operation Brother's Keeper' initiative supplied over 300,000 N95 and cloth masks to frontline workers and disadvantaged communities. In a significant stride for racial equity within the industry, the Foundation forged an alliance with Jack Daniel's Distillery in 2020 to create the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, a concerted effort to elevate people of color within the American whiskey industry and foster greater diversity across the entire spirits sector. Weaver's influence also extends to corporate governance, as evidenced by her appointment in March 2021 to the Endeavor Group Holdings board of directors, alongside figures such as Elon Musk, where she serves on its audit committee. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a global consortium of leading young CEOs. Weaver's professional trajectory includes a six-year hiatus from entrepreneurial pursuits, during which she immersed herself in various roles within the hospitality sector, serving as head of special events and catering for Viceroy Hotels and as a General Manager for Dimension Development Co., overseeing numerous Marriott and Hilton brand hotels. This period reshaped her investment and management philosophy, instilling a 'team-first' organizational ethos where she often prioritizes her role as Chief Encouragement Officer. The self-proclaimed 'People's CEO' announced June 30 on Instagram that she launched Nightcap With Fawn. 'Y'all found this page before I even announced it! I love the energy building around @nightcapwithfawn— y'all are amazing. Episode 6 drops tomorrow night, and I'm making a bold claim: This Nightcap is the breakdown so many of you need to unlock happiness this year — no matter the chaos — and stay locked in on the success that's still yours to claim. So many are already giving up on 2025. You won't be one of them.' Born in Pasadena, California, Weaver left home at the age of 15 and dropped out of high school at 16. However, her commitment to education led her to return and complete her degree 25 years after her initial pursuit, earning a summa cum laude bachelor's degree through UA Online's New College LifeTrack program, partly influenced by the University of Alabama's football team's success. Her journey exemplifies a relentless dedication to completing endeavors once commenced. The lady boss's career is a compelling narrative of entrepreneurial brilliance interwoven with a deep-seated commitment to historical acknowledgment and community upliftment. Weaver's work with Uncle Nearest is not merely about crafting exceptional whiskey; it is about rectifying historical oversights, building generational wealth, and inspiring a new paradigm of leadership in both commerce and social justice. RELATED CONTENT:
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Bourbon, According To America's Top Bartenders
Uncle Nearest Master Blend It's not surprising that America's top bartenders would pick Uncle Nearest as their top bourbon choice. Since its debut less than a decade ago, the brand has garnered a world-class reputation, winning numerous medals along the way. Below is a brief description and tasting notes on America's bartender's top pick for World's Best Bourbon! Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 is a premium Tennessee whiskey crafted by Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. This limited-release expression is part of Uncle Nearest's Master Blend Edition series, which honors Nathan "Nearest" Green, the first known African American master distiller in the United States. Green taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling and developed the Lincoln County Process, a charcoal mellowing technique that defines Tennessee whisky. Tennessee whisky is considered a variant of bourbon, as it meets all the statutory requirements for being labeled a bourbon, but also undergoes a charcoal filtration process to be classified as a Tennessee whiskey. Victoria Eady Butler, a fifth-generation descendant of Nearest Green and the first known African American female master blender in the American whiskey industry, curated the Master Blend Edition series. Since joining Uncle Nearest in 2019, Butler has overseen the blending of select barrels to create exceptional small-batch whiskeys that pay tribute to her ancestor's legacy. Each expression in the series is bottled at cask strength, hence the ABV differs slightly between bottlings, and is available exclusively at the distillery. Batch 032 is the latest bottling in the series. The Uncle Nearest Whiskey Range The whisky is complex and aromatic on the nose, featuring ripe bananas, caramel, milk chocolate, espresso, strawberries, and a subtle aroma of cooked cereal. On the palate, the whiskey is robust and full-bodied, featuring notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, red berries, coffee, and a hint of vanilla. The finish is medium in length and creamy, with lingering notes of cinnamon, caramel, and red berries. Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 is best enjoyed straight up or with a few drops of water to open up its complex flavors. Its robust profile also makes it a suitable base for classic whiskey cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Pair it with rich foods such as grilled meats, sausages, aged cheeses, or dark chocolate desserts. The International Bartender Spirits Awards is a renowned global competition that showcases the world's best spirits. Selection is based on quality, innovation, value, and craftsmanship. Judged by an expert panel of bartenders and industry professionals, the competition is highly regarded in the spirits industry and serves as a benchmark for quality. Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 is a testament to the rich heritage of bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and the legacy of Nearest Green. Under the deft hand of Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler, this expression showcases the complexity and craftsmanship that define Uncle Nearest's premium offerings. With its nuanced, layered flavors and its signature smooth finish, Batch 032 is a must-have whiskey and deserves a place in every home whisky collection.
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Whiskey Founder Fawn Weaver Tariff-Proofed Her Business. Plus: Stop Decision Fatigue From Sabotaging Your Career
This is this week's ForbesWomen newsletter, which every Thursday brings news about the world's top female entrepreneurs, leaders and investors straight to your inbox. Click here to get on the newsletter list! Jamel Toppin for Forbes Two weeks ago, I wrote here about some entrepreneurs who were already feeling the pinch of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Today, I want to tell you about someone who saw the writing on the wall—and who has been spending the last several quarters preparing for the market volatility that has been unfolding all month. Fawn Weaver founded Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to honor the formerly enslaved master distiller who taught Jack Daniel the secret to making great whiskey. She's turned the company into the most successful Black-owned liquor empire, worth $1.1 billion, and she and I recently got to talk about her strategic approach in taking capital, why she's expanding her company beyond whiskey—think vodka and cognac, the first two stops towards what Weaver envisions as a drinks conglomerate—and of course, tariffs. Weaver told me that she was listening to what Trump said on the campaign trail and even in his first term in office and planned for 2025 based on those comments. 'We should have taken [Trump] at his word: 'I am going to come in here and disrupt everything,'' Weaver said of the business community. What this meant for her business: 'From Q1 of 2024 to Q1 of 2025, we cut our expenses by 40%,' Weaver said, explaining that she also sought to ensure that the glass and cork she needed for Uncle Nearest's products were in America—and that she had access to enough to cover the next two years. She also said that when it came to forecasting Uncle Nearest's 2025 revenue, she instructed her team to take a conservative approach: 'When we forecasted for 2025, by October of last year, we had pulled out all numbers that were in relation to international sales. ALL revenue, because we didn't anticipate any would come in. So for us, if we get international revenue this year, woo hoo, it's a fun bonus.' To see my full conversation with Fawn Weaver, click through here! Cheers! JOSHUA PULLAR VIA BETTERMENT Since the longtime Viacom exec took the reins in 2020, digital investing firm Betterment's been on a buying spree, acquiring four companies over the course of five years. Then the market crashed—but Sarah Levy's approach to business strategy is the same as the advice her firm gives to customers. 'By having a balanced portfolio, you weather the storm,' she says. When expectant fathers face hostility or subtle exclusion at work, the consequences can extend beyond their own careers: A new study finds that the more workplace discrimination an expectant father perceives and experiences, the more likely the mother is to exit the workforce or switch jobs. Fewer women are adopting AI tools at work, even as generative AI products like ChatGPT are rapidly transforming how work gets done. The adoption gap may leave women behind, exacerbating the AI leadership crisis and limiting firms' ability to fully leverage GenAI's productivity potential. A $5,000 'baby bonus' is one of several proposals the White House is reportedly considering amid declining birth rates in the U.S. as it looks to incentivize Americans to have more children. (It's worth noting that this is a fraction of the $20,000 in baby-related expenses families pay, on average, during their child's first year.) Kim Ng made history in 2020 when she was named general manager of the Miami Marlins, becoming the first woman and first Asian-American GM in MLB history. Now, Ng has notched a new leadership role: she's been tapped as the first commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. Pope Francis died earlier this week, at the age of 88. What does this have to do with ForbesWomen? As pontiff of a religion practiced by some 1.4 billion people around the world, Francis elevated more women to Vatican leadership than any of his predecessors. Whether this legacy continues with the next pope remains to be seen. As Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University, told ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath in an interview this week, the role of women in the church is an important issue to the cardinals, but not the only factor they will consider when they go into the conclave. 1. Stop decision fatigue from sabotaging your career. From budget approvals and hiring calls to strategy pivots and culture questions, leaders are expected to make high-stakes choices day after day. But what happens when your sharp decision-making starts to slip—not from lack of skill, but from sheer mental overload? 2. Trust your intuition. Bea Dixon, cofounder and CEO of feminine care company The Honey Pot, last year secured a $380 million majority stake in her company from Compass Diversified. But as Dixon shared in this recent ForbesWomen interview, she walked away from offers that were even higher—because to take them would have felt like 'selling her soul.' 3. Ask yourself these 20 questions before beginning a job search. If you're job hunting, one of the biggest missteps you can make is jumping straight into cold applications before taking the time to reflect. Here are the 20 most important questions to ask yourself. April is Financial Literacy Month, and in these uncertain economic times, it's worth following a few key principles when it comes to estate planning. While intricacies like estate and gift taxes are typically only of concern to less than 1% of households, which of the following tips can help any family optimize how they pass on hard-earned wealth?
Buzz Feed
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
I Don't Do The Brown, But Whiskey Might Get My Attention: Let's Try Some Black-Owned Whiskey Brands
I Don't Do The Brown, But Whiskey Might Get My Attention: Let's Try Some Black-Owned Whiskey Brands One thing about me, I don't do brown liquor but when Queen Bey came out with that Sir Davis, I had to try it out. I tried it and baby, it puts hair on that chest – and I have none cause I wax so you know it packs a straight punch. It felt warm, but you can't just throw that thing back. Joyce, Jayden, Nichi, Raven, Selorm, and Red will be our taste testers today. So, let's get into it. After raving about being open to brown liquors as they get older, the first whiskey they try and have to guess is Gentleman's Cut. It's giving grown man whiskey according to Jayden. While the other contestants actually guessed correctly and knew it was Stephen Curry's whiskey, Jayden kept it real and shared the name on the bottle. Cmon staff, let's do better chile. Raven shared how it smells like warm apple pie but Jayden with her sharp takes shares how it reminds her of the candies in your grandmother's purse. All the ladies confirmed it was warm, but it was good and even wanted another cup. Now let's see if they can guess the next owner of the next bottle. The ladies share their sentiments, saying it gave classy and a whiskey of prestige. Sounds like a Black woman made this to me – and one did! Now Selorm questions the name of the whiskey brand, which is Uncle Nearest and wonders why it is a masculine name for a woman bottle? While they couldn't guess the owner of the bottle, Fawn Weaver, they did taste it and Jayden opened up the dialogue by saying at first taste, it's a bit burnt and has a wood taste. After the second option, Raven shares that she's slowly becoming a whiskey girl. Love that for you baby. Red adds she tastes a bit of sharpness in her palette, but the overall consensus is positive. Next is everyone's favorite, D'USSE, and while we won't be driving the boat like Megan Thee Stallion, we are gonna take this to the head. While sharing hilarious observations, calling the bottle 'Medieval Royalty,' Team Nichi and Raven guesses correctly and it's owned by Jay-Z. Mixed consensus, but Joyce shares it went down smoothly. Final whiskey is of course, Sir Davis, and they all knew exactly who owned it, too. As they clink clink and look each other in the eyes, they take their shot and whew, a mixed crowd as some of the ladies were not feeling that strong punch chile. Her cousin, Raven Carter, was not feeling it at all. Selorm, however, shared that it was very savory. After going back and forth on rankings, the ultimate winner is Queen Bey herself with her Sir Davis being ranked as #1. See where the other whiskeys are placed and in the meantime, go order some Black-owned whiskeys cause when you bet on Black, you never go back. That's the saying, right? – Also, Raven, can you hook a brother up with some Cowboy Carter tickets?
