Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has announced another significant milestone in the brands history, unveiling the new master blender, Victoria Eady-Butler, the great-great-granddaughter or Nearest Green himself.
This news marks the first-known African-American master blender in the world and in her new role, Eady-Butler will oversee the blending process for the brand, following the recent successful release of the first two batches of 1884 this year.
Fawn Weaver, co-founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, said, “I remember watching Victoria the first time she entered the blending and tasting room. She was intimidated by the 30 different barrel selections at first, but by the end it was as if she’d been doing this her entire life – the whiskey business is definitely in her blood. She ?proved to us all very early on that she was doing ?exactly? what she was meant to do. Our entire team is grateful and honored to be here during this time in history when we’ve been given the opportunity to witness the continuation of Nearest Green’s legacy through his bloodline.”
Following her retirement from a 31-year career within the Department of Justice, Eady-Butler joined the Uncle Nearest team in March, 2019, during which time she has played an integral role in the brand’s growth.
“It’s difficult for me to put into words what the creation of this brand has meant to me and my family,” said Eady-Butler. “Being able to contribute to my great-great-grandfather’s whiskey-making legacy as master blender is an honor, as well as a great responsibility. It feels like I’m picking up right where he left off and I am ready.”
“When we launched Uncle Nearest, making history was nowhere on our radar. We cared solely about cementing the legacy of the first-known African-American master distiller for generations to come,” said Weaver. “That we made history in many of these areas is both exhilarating and unfortunate. The latter because it took this long to bring women and people of color to the forefront of this great American industry. The former because no matter how long something takes, there’s something magical about the first time it finally happens.”
This news marks the first-known African-American master blender in the world and in her new role, Eady-Butler will oversee the blending process for the brand, following the recent successful release of the first two batches of 1884 this year.
Fawn Weaver, co-founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, said, “I remember watching Victoria the first time she entered the blending and tasting room. She was intimidated by the 30 different barrel selections at first, but by the end it was as if she’d been doing this her entire life – the whiskey business is definitely in her blood. She ?proved to us all very early on that she was doing ?exactly? what she was meant to do. Our entire team is grateful and honored to be here during this time in history when we’ve been given the opportunity to witness the continuation of Nearest Green’s legacy through his bloodline.”
Following her retirement from a 31-year career within the Department of Justice, Eady-Butler joined the Uncle Nearest team in March, 2019, during which time she has played an integral role in the brand’s growth.
“It’s difficult for me to put into words what the creation of this brand has meant to me and my family,” said Eady-Butler. “Being able to contribute to my great-great-grandfather’s whiskey-making legacy as master blender is an honor, as well as a great responsibility. It feels like I’m picking up right where he left off and I am ready.”
“When we launched Uncle Nearest, making history was nowhere on our radar. We cared solely about cementing the legacy of the first-known African-American master distiller for generations to come,” said Weaver. “That we made history in many of these areas is both exhilarating and unfortunate. The latter because it took this long to bring women and people of color to the forefront of this great American industry. The former because no matter how long something takes, there’s something magical about the first time it finally happens.”
