In 1866, Jasper Daniel founded a small distillery in Lynchburg, TN.
155 years later, his namesake sells over 13M cases / year
You know it as Jack Daniel's
The name you don't know?
Pour a glass 🥃, and I'll tell you of the man behind the brand
Nathan "Nearest" Green
👇🏻
155 years later, his namesake sells over 13M cases / year
You know it as Jack Daniel's
The name you don't know?
Pour a glass 🥃, and I'll tell you of the man behind the brand
Nathan "Nearest" Green
👇🏻
1/ Born in Lynchburg, TN in the mid 1800s
Jasper Newton Daniel, or "Jack" as he would come to be known, was the youngest of 10 children born to Calaway and Lucinda Daniel
For Jack, early life was hard
Both his mother and father would pass away not long after his birth
Jasper Newton Daniel, or "Jack" as he would come to be known, was the youngest of 10 children born to Calaway and Lucinda Daniel
For Jack, early life was hard
Both his mother and father would pass away not long after his birth
2/ Orphaned, Jack would find refuge when taken in by a local preacher, grocer & distiller named Dan Call
Mr. Call, having an abundance of work, saw promise in young Jack and set about teaching him to run his moonshine still
At least that's what we were told...
Mr. Call, having an abundance of work, saw promise in young Jack and set about teaching him to run his moonshine still
At least that's what we were told...
3/ Fast forward to 2016 when, within a New York Times article, a revelation was made
Dan Call was not the person responsible for teaching Jack the moonshine trade after all
Instead, that responsibility fell to a man named Nathan "Nearest" Green
Dan Call was not the person responsible for teaching Jack the moonshine trade after all
Instead, that responsibility fell to a man named Nathan "Nearest" Green
4/ Green, an African American Man, had been born into slavery
Records show that he was likely owned by a firm known as "Landis and Green" who hired him out to work for Call
Soon however, the Emancipation Proclamation woud be issued, making Green a free man
Records show that he was likely owned by a firm known as "Landis and Green" who hired him out to work for Call
Soon however, the Emancipation Proclamation woud be issued, making Green a free man
5/ Upon receiving his freedom, Green had a decision to make
Move on, or continue to work for Call?
He decided he would stay, with a new title...
Master Distiller
Move on, or continue to work for Call?
He decided he would stay, with a new title...
Master Distiller
6/ It was with this decsion that the wheels of fate started to turn
"Uncle Nearest," as he would affectionately come to be known, was soon introduced to the young boy named Jack who had come to live with Call
Upon introducing the two, Call had one simple instruction
"Uncle Nearest," as he would affectionately come to be known, was soon introduced to the young boy named Jack who had come to live with Call
Upon introducing the two, Call had one simple instruction
7/ "Uncle Nearest, I want you to make Jack the best moonshine distiller in the world"
And so it was, Green would begin training Daniel in the art of distillation
And so it was, Green would begin training Daniel in the art of distillation
8/ Over time, Green would teach Daniel all he knew; both about the moonshine still and his personal "sour mash" recipe
As Jack grew older, he would recieve an inheritance from his father's estate
Using the proceeds, he and Call would found their distillery
As Jack grew older, he would recieve an inheritance from his father's estate
Using the proceeds, he and Call would found their distillery
9/ The exact foundation date is in question
The brand lists the date as 1866 while official registration documents seem to show the distillery wasn't registered until 1875
Either way; Green, Daniel and Call were in business
The brand lists the date as 1866 while official registration documents seem to show the distillery wasn't registered until 1875
Either way; Green, Daniel and Call were in business
10/ Not long after foundation, Call would leave the group for religious reasons
Leaving only Daniel and Green, his mentor & master distller, to run the operation
They needed help
Leaving only Daniel and Green, his mentor & master distller, to run the operation
They needed help
11/ This in mind, Daniel immediately hired two of Nathan's sons, George (seated at the right hand of Jack in the picture below) and Eli
Over the years, the Green family has continued to play an integral role within the Jack Daniel's distillery
Over the years, the Green family has continued to play an integral role within the Jack Daniel's distillery
12/ All told, 7 generations of the family have been employed by the business
With at least 3 direct descendants working there as recently as 2017
So what became of the small distillery founded by an Orphan, a preacher, and a man born into slavery?
With at least 3 direct descendants working there as recently as 2017
So what became of the small distillery founded by an Orphan, a preacher, and a man born into slavery?
13/ As of this writing, The Jack Daniel's brand is a household name & the most popular American whiskey in the world
Estimates show the company sells upwards of 13M cases of whiskey each year
Brown Forman, the company who now owns the name, listed revenues of over 3.3B in 2020
Estimates show the company sells upwards of 13M cases of whiskey each year
Brown Forman, the company who now owns the name, listed revenues of over 3.3B in 2020
14/ But what about the man responsible for it all?
Whatever happened to Nathan "Uncle Nearest" Green?
While the date of his passing is unknown, the legacy of Green is carried on today in the form of what else?
His own whiskey 🥃
Whatever happened to Nathan "Uncle Nearest" Green?
While the date of his passing is unknown, the legacy of Green is carried on today in the form of what else?
His own whiskey 🥃
15/ In 2017, inspired by Green's story, Fawn Weaver saw an opportunity
Fawn; An author, entrepreneur and investor thought to herself, what better way to honor Green than with his own brand?
With that "Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey" was born 👇🏻
Fawn; An author, entrepreneur and investor thought to herself, what better way to honor Green than with his own brand?
With that "Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey" was born 👇🏻
16/ Today, you can find Uncle Nearest's sold in 47 states and 8 countries across the world
Green's story was also the basis for a short film recently featured at the Tribeca Fillm Festival in New York
The title of the film?
"The Best American Story the World Never Knew"
Green's story was also the basis for a short film recently featured at the Tribeca Fillm Festival in New York
The title of the film?
"The Best American Story the World Never Knew"
17/ That's All Folk's!
Want more stories about products, business and the amazing people behind them?
1. Retweet the 1st tweet above
2. Follow me @blakeaburge
Want more stories about products, business and the amazing people behind them?
1. Retweet the 1st tweet above
2. Follow me @blakeaburge
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