Distillery profile

Nearest Green Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Nearest Green Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Nearest Green Distillery is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee on a 458-acre property and combines a working distillery with visitor facilities. The facility, which opened in 2019, houses a Welcome Center, rickhouses, restaurants, and an active single-barrel program. Visitors can purchase both retail-ready expressions and distillery-exclusive bottles, and the site ties storytelling about Nearest Green together with guided tours and tastings.

History

The story traces back to 1856 in the use of the Nearest Green name and builds on the legacy around Nathan/Nearest Green. The Uncle Nearest brand debuted in July 2017 and quickly earned awards. Nearest Green Distillery opened as a physical facility on September 14, 2019 and has since evolved into a phased facility housing both farm and distillery functions. The company operates under Uncle Nearest, Inc., and the communications highlight both the heritage and initiatives such as the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative.

Raw Materials and Production

The facility functions as a working distillery and a farm; guests can experience production areas and rickhouse aging. Victoria Eady Butler is named as Master Blender and participates in Master Blender experiences. The distillery has an active single-barrel program, including experiences where guests gain access to 'thieve' from barrels in the rickhouses. The technical parameters such as mashbill, fermentation times, and yeast strains are not disclosed in the available materials.

Aging and Cask Types

Whiskies are stored in rickhouses on the property, and tours such as Taste of History showcase both cooperage and aging processes. Several expressions are offered as single barrel or unfiltered editions, indicating the use of individual barrels and bottlings directly from single casks. There are no detailed details about specific cask types or cask provenance in the material provided.

Whiskeys

The Welcome Center offers eight core expressions, ranging from Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey (84 proof) to various rye expressions, small-batch and premium editions. Several bottles are listed as distillery-exclusive (e.g., Master Blend Edition, Single Barrel Rye, Uncut/Unfiltered Rye) while others are more widely available in retail. The lineup combines low-proof availability with single-barrel experiences and higher-proof rye expressions.

Whiskey Type / Series Alcohol Flavor Profile Status
Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey Tennessee whiskey 42 % 84-proof (42% ABV) Tennessee whiskey formulated by master blender Victoria Eady Butler; presented as a more accessible expression in the portfolio and suitable for both neat and cocktails. Current; Core range; Retail
1856 Premium Aged Whiskey Premium Aged Whiskey A part of Uncle Nearest's core lineup, often listed among the eight expressions sold in the Welcome Center. Current; Core range; Retail
1884 Small Batch Small Batch Small Batch edition in the distillery's standard portfolio and part of the Welcome Center selection. Current; Core range; Retail
Master Blend Edition Master Blend Edition is listed as a distillery-exclusive new release, sold exclusively at Nearest Green Distillery and included in certain tastings. Current; Core range; Distillery Exclusive
Single Barrel Black Label Single Barrel Black Label is included in single-barrel experiences and is available at the Welcome Center; listed as part of the eight core expressions. Current; Core range; Retail
Single Barrel Rye Rye whiskey Single-barrel edition of rye, listed as a distillery-exclusive and included in the Single Barrel Thieving experience. Current; Core range; Distillery Exclusive
Uncut / Unfiltered Rye Rye whiskey Unfiltered/uncut rye, listed as a distillery-exclusive in the Welcome Center prices. Current; Core range; Distillery Exclusive
Rye 100 Proof Rye whiskey 50 % Rye edition at 100 proof (50% ABV) noted as part of the Welcome Center selection. Current; Core range; Retail

Visit the Distillery

Nearest Green Distillery offers a range of guided tours and tastings typically lasting 1–1.5 hours: NGD Tour & Tasting, Taste of History, Single Barrel Thieving, Label Your Own, and Master Blender Tour. Reservations are recommended or required for most experiences; prices are listed per experience and group requirements apply for larger bookings. The Welcome Center offers tastings and sales of core expressions as well as distillery exclusives. Parking is free; wheelchair access is available in select areas, and two restaurants are on site.

The stated hours are Monday: 10 AM – 2 PM; Tuesday–Wednesday: 10 AM – 2 PM; Thursday–Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM; Sunday: 11 AM – 4 PM. (FAQ notes variants of hours and longer Thursday-Sunday hours on other pages.)

Philosophy and Craft

The messaging carries the motto 'DRINK HONORABLY' and has a clear focus on honoring the Nearest Green legacy. The distillery supports diversity and education in the industry through initiatives such as the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative and maintains a legacy scholarship for descendants.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Double Gold (2020, Double Gold)

  • Double Gold (2021, Double Gold)

  • Double Gold (2022, Double Gold)

  • Double Gold (2023, Double Gold)

  • Spirit Brand of the Year (Spirit Brand of the Year)

  • Chairman’s Trophy (2x) (Chairman’s Trophy)

  • Whiskey of the Year (Whiskey of the Year)

  • Master Medal (Master Medal)

  • World's Best (3x) (World's Best)

  • Total awards (Over 1,075 prizes and recognitions combined since July 2017; including 715 gold medals or higher and 123 Best in Class honors)