Fawn Weaver uncovered the story of Nearest Green, the first known African American master distiller, and turned it into a whiskey brand that became one of the fastest growing in the entire spirits industry. That's a sentence that sounds too good to be true, but it's exactly what happened.
Before getting into whiskey, Weaver had a background in public relations and hospitality. She came across the story of Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel himself how to distill, and was frustrated that nobody seemed to know about it. So she did the research, bought land near the original distillery, and in 2017 launched Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. The brand took off fast and has won a pile of awards.
What makes Uncle Nearest different from most celebrity or story-driven brands is that the product is genuinely excellent. It's not just a good story with mediocre whiskey behind it. The whiskey stands on its own, and the story makes people care enough to try it. That combination is rare.
Weaver also founded the Nearest Green Foundation to honor Green's legacy and support underrepresented communities through education and grants. She's the first African American woman to build a major spirits brand, which is a pretty significant milestone in an industry that's been around for centuries.
On Shark Tank she brings a perspective rooted in brand storytelling, culture, and building something with real purpose behind it.
Key highlights:
- Founded Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, one of the fastest growing spirits brands
- First African American woman to lead a major spirits brand
- Created the Nearest Green Foundation for education and community support
- Built a brand that combines historical storytelling with award-winning product