Uncle Nearest Whiskey has enlisted “The Lifestyle Specialist,” Kenny Burns, to join its growing team of seasoned industry veterans to continue the branding of this great American story. Burns is known as a top influencer in music and entertainment and more recently as a brand ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka, CIROC and DeLeon Tequila.
“We’ve been curating this great team by watching the industry very closely,” said Keith Miles, spokesperson for Uncle Nearest, “and responding to what our consumers have requested most. Kenny’s ability to introduce the brand to bars across America is unsurpassed. When you look at his track record of success in the industry, no one has been able to do what he has continued to do for two decades.”
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has captivated the hearts and minds of conscientious whiskey consumers around the world. The brand is the first to honor an African-American in the whiskey industry, a group that has gone largely unrecognized in spite of its heavy involvement in the creation of the American Whiskey market.
“As I travel around the world and tell this great story of the first known African-American master distiller, I am still amazed at the number of people who are yet to have heard his name and his significance in the whiskey business,” said Fawn Weaver, chief historian and co-founder of the brand.
Kenny Burns & Fawn Weaver Pay Homage To Jack Daniels Mentor Uncle Nearest
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Uncle Nearest Whiskey in 42 States
The company has ramped up its planned expansion into 45 domestic and international markets this year. “When we launched in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of July 2017, no one could have predicted the speed in which markets around the world would request we bring this great story and brand,” said Kate Jerkens, vice president of sales and marketing. “We are excited to have Kenny join us as a partner in continuing to build the next great American brand.”
The company says Burns’ existing contribution to pop culture over the past 20 years, as well as his understanding of industry trends and forecasts, makes him the perfect partner to amplify the message of Uncle Nearest and to introduce the brand to a wider audience.
Who is Nathan “Nearest” Green
Nathan “Nearest” Green, known by those in his hometown of Lynchburg, Tenn., as Uncle Nearest, was the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States. He was also the first head stiller, now commonly referred to as master distiller, for Jack Daniel Distillery and remained in that capacity until at least 1881. He is thought to have helped perfect the Lincoln County Process, a special charcoal filtering method required to be considered Tennessee Whiskey, named after the county in which Nearest lived and made whiskey.
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A Day on the Trail: The Story of Nearest Green, America’s 1st African-American Master Distiller [Video]
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