Black History

Jack Daniels Whiskey Owes a Debt to Former Slave

OAKLAND POST — Nathan “Nearest” Green, born into slavery in 1820, was an African-American head stiller (commonly referred to as a master distiller). Emancipated after the Civil War, Nathan became a master distiller, teaching his techniques to Jack Daniel, founder of the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey distillery.

Published

7 years ago

April 29, 2019

Oakland Post

By Tamara Shiloh

“There’s no part of America’s history that Black folks weren’t a part of in some form or fashion.” I say this all the time, then I learned about Jack Daniel’s. The truth in this statement never ceases to amaze me.

Tamara Shiloh

Nathan “Nearest” Green, born into slavery in 1820, was an African-American head stiller (commonly referred to as a master distiller). Emancipated after the Civil War, Nathan became a master distiller, teaching his techniques to Jack Daniel, founder of the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey distillery.

It is written that when Jack Daniel was a boy, he went to work for Dan Call: a preacher, grocer, and distiller. This is where he learned to operate a whiskey still.

Nearest Green was owned by Landis & Green Company, who hired him out to work for Dan Call, the distiller. Green was one of a few enslaved people who continued to work for Call after slavery ended.

Jack Daniel’s and Nearest Green’s lives would cross when Call introduced Jack Daniel to Green saying: “Uncle Nearest is the best whiskey maker that I know of.”

Call then said to Green, “I want Jack to become the world’s best whiskey distiller—if he wants to be. You help me teach him.”

The rest is Black history.

Green served as master distiller. Only a few years older than Jack, Green taught him all about the still. He also played the fiddle and was a lively entertainer, a trait that was passed down to his son, Jesse Green.

In 1866, a year after slavery ended with ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Daniel opened his distillery and immediately employed two of Green’s sons, George and Eli. Seven straight generations of Nearest Green’s descendants have worked for Jack Daniel’s Distillery, with three direct descendants continuing to work there as of November 2017.

In July 2017, Uncle Nearest, Inc. created a whiskey honoring the legacy of Nearest Green. Debuting as Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey, it was created by working with two Tennessee distilleries, but not Jack Daniel’s Distillery.

In August 2017, the Brown-Forman Corporation, which owns the Jack Daniel’s Distillery and brand, officially recognized Green as its first head stiller—now called a master distiller—and added him to the company’s website. In October 2017, Brown-Forman added his legacy to its official tours.

This article originally appeared in the Oakland Post.

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COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

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3 weeks ago

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Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?