Draft:Love & Whiskey

Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest is a non-fiction book that tells the story of Nathan "Nearest" Green’s life and the founding of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the whiskey brand named after him. The book was written by Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest.

Writing
Weaver first heard of Nearest Green when she read an article in The New York Times, “Jack Daniel’s Embraces a Secret Ingredient: Help From a Slave.” After that, she assembled over 30 historians, archivists, genealogists, researchers, and conservators to find out more about Green and Daniel. She interviewed more than 100 of Nearest Green’s descendants, and many of Jack Daniel’s descendants, and read through thousands of documents.

The book highlights the life and legacy of Nearest Green, who was the world’s first-known African-American master distiller, exploring his bond and friendship with Jack Daniel, including Green’s role teaching Daniel the craft of whiskey distilling and Daniel’s efforts to preserve Green’s legacy.

On May 6, 2024, Fawn signed 25,000 copies of Love & Whiskey in 24 hours and 35 minutes, setting a Guinness World Record. The book released on June 18, 2024, debuting at #5 on New York Times' Hardcover Nonfiction Best Seller's List.

Reception
Love and Whiskey was released on June 18, 2024 from Melcher Media. Publishers Weekly described it as “a powerful portrayal of a largely hidden American history.”