On the latest episode of The Table, entrepreneur and author Fawn Weaver sat down with Dr. Dante to share the remarkable story behind Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history. The conversation, held on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, was as much about legacy and leadership as it was about business—and offered a masterclass in risk, resilience, and storytelling
Weaver, a three-time New York Times bestselling author, founded Uncle Nearest in 2016 after uncovering the overlooked legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green—the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to distill whiskey. In an industry built on tradition but often resistant to disruption, Weaver took a bold step: to not only honor Green’s contributions but to build a billion-dollar brand around his name. And in doing so, she reshaped American whiskey history.
“People say I found the story,” Weaver said. “But the truth is, it was never lost—it just never left Lynchburg.”
She credits her husband, Keith, with helping launch the brand by underwriting loans and maintaining a full-time executive role to financially support their vision. Theirs, she said, is a true love story—of marriage, of faith, and of building something that would outlast them both.
But legacy, Weaver made clear, isn’t just about what we leave behind. It’s about how we move through the world. For her, that meant turning away from traditional venture capital and instead aligning with seasoned investors who believed in the long game—and in her ability to pivot when necessary.
“I couldn’t do panic,” she said. “I needed people who would let me build, fail, adjust, and build again.”
That mindset—what Dante called “pivot over panic”—runs through every aspect of the business. It’s why Weaver sees flexibility not as weakness but as a strategy. And it’s how she built a company that’s now the most awarded American whiskey brand six years running.
A major part of that success is due to Victoria E. Butler, Uncle Nearest’s master blender and Green’s great-great-granddaughter. Despite having no formal training, Butler trusted her instincts and her lineage—earning the title of Master Blender of the Year four times over.
“Victoria blends like no one else because she wasn’t trained like anyone else,” Weaver said. “She swallows the whiskey, not spits it out. Because that’s how the consumer experiences it.”
For Weaver, storytelling and craftsmanship are inseparable. Whether honoring Butler’s unique palate or the hospitality at Nearest Green Distillery—now the seventh most visited in the world—she emphasizes the role of the team in building a brand grounded in equity and excellence. “Everyone is treated like family,” she said. “We don’t do VIPs.”
As the conversation drew to a close, Weaver was asked what advice she would offer to business leaders navigating 2025’s unpredictable terrain.
“Be proactive, not reactive,” she said without hesitation. “Stay focused. Everything else is white noise.”
It was a sentiment she carried through to her final reflection: that her name doesn’t need to be remembered, as long as the story of Uncle Nearest lives on. But Dante—and likely every viewer—challenged that notion.
“Fawn, your legacy is in the spotlight you shine,” he said. “Much like Nearest Green, you’ve changed history. And there’s a generation watching.”
Indeed, in telling Green’s story, Weaver has written her own—a legacy rooted in risk, purpose, and the kind of storytelling that refuses to let greatness go unseen.
Press play above to watch the full interview.
