Uncle Nearest Distillery Tour: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
If you're planning a trip to Nashville and want to experience Tennessee whiskey beyond the city limits, the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville should be high on your list.
The home of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is about an hour from Nashville and offers something a little different from many traditional distillery visits. Whiskey is certainly a big part of the experience, but so is the remarkable story of Nathan "Nearest" Green, the first known African American master distiller, his connection to Jack Daniel, and the generations of the Green family who followed him.
At Tennessee Whiskey Tours, we've taken guests from Nashville to Nearest Green Distillery for years. We've seen what visitors enjoy most, what tends to surprise them, and what you should know before making the trip.
Here's our guide to getting the most out of your visit.
Uncle Nearest Distillery: Quick Facts
Location: Shelbyville, Tennessee
Distance from Nashville: Approximately one hour
Standard Tour Length: About 1.5 hours
Recommended Time at the Distillery: About 2.5 hours if you'd also like time for shopping, food, or a drink
Reservations: Highly recommended
Whiskey Tasting: Included with the standard Tour and Tasting for guests of legal drinking age
Food: Barrel House BBQ is located on the property
Cocktails: The Humble Baron is also located on the property, with operating hours that vary
Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall offer particularly pleasant weather, although the experience is enjoyable year-round
Who Was Uncle Nearest?
Understanding the story of Nearest Green before you visit makes the experience even more meaningful.
Nathan "Nearest" Green was an enslaved man who became a skilled distiller in Middle Tennessee. He worked on the farm of preacher and distiller Dan Call, where a young Jack Daniel also learned the craft.
Historical research brought renewed attention to Green's role in Jack Daniel's story, and he is now recognized as the first known African American master distiller. After emancipation, Green continued working as a free man, and members of the Green family would remain connected to whiskey-making in Lynchburg for generations.
Entrepreneur and author Fawn Weaver began researching Green's story after learning about him in 2016. Her work eventually led to the creation of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2017, a brand built specifically to honor and preserve Nearest Green's legacy.
Today, the 458-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville serves as both the home of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and a place dedicated to telling a much larger American story.
From Our Experience
Guests often arrive expecting a whiskey tour and leave talking just as much about the history. The story of Nearest Green, the Green family, and their place in American whiskey history is one of the things that makes this experience so different.
Where Is Nearest Green Distillery?
Nearest Green Distillery is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee, roughly an hour south of Nashville.
The first portion of the drive takes you out of Nashville and its surrounding communities before transitioning into the rolling hills and countryside of Middle Tennessee. Roughly half of the drive offers the kind of rural Tennessee scenery many visitors don't get to experience if they stay primarily in Nashville.
It's an easy day trip, but it's far enough outside the city that you'll want to plan transportation before you go.
Rideshare services can be unpredictable for a destination this far outside Nashville, particularly when it comes time to arrange a return trip. If you're driving yourself, make sure you've confirmed your tour reservation and timing before leaving Nashville.
Another option is booking transportation through Tennessee Whiskey Tours, which handles the trip from Nashville as part of the experience.
From Our Experience
We rarely hear guests complain about the hour-long drive. Our drivers use the time to share Tennessee and whiskey history, talk about Nashville, answer questions, and offer recommendations for the rest of their stay. Once you're outside the city, the countryside doesn't hurt either.
How Long Should You Spend at Uncle Nearest?
The standard Nearest Green Distillery Tour and Tasting lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
But we wouldn't recommend planning to leave immediately afterward.
Allow about 2.5 hours total at the property if you'd like enough time to take the tour, browse the gift shop, purchase a special bottle, grab something to eat at Barrel House BBQ, or potentially have a cocktail at the Humble Baron.
That gives you enough time to enjoy the property without turning the visit into an all-day affair.
If you're traveling from Nashville, plan on roughly four and a half to five hours for the complete outing once transportation is included.
What to Expect on the Uncle Nearest Distillery Tour
The standard guided tour lasts about 90 minutes and takes you through several areas of the Nearest Green Distillery property while telling the story behind the whiskey and the people it honors.
Compared with Jack Daniel's, the experience feels smaller and more intimate.
The focus isn't exclusively on equipment and whiskey production. A significant portion of the experience is devoted to storytelling: Nearest Green, his family, African American history, Tennessee history, and the relationship between Nearest Green and Jack Daniel.
For visitors interested in American history as much as whiskey, that's a major part of the appeal.
Philo + Frank's Speakeasy
One of the most memorable parts of the experience is Philo + Frank's, a recreation of a speakeasy.
The space allows the tour to expand beyond whiskey history and explore Black history and the Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee.
It's an unexpected part of a distillery tour and one that tends to stick with visitors afterward.
The Distillery Grounds
The property itself is scenic and picturesque, with historic-inspired buildings, open spaces and plenty to explore.
The standard tour isn't particularly strenuous. Visitors can expect roughly half a mile of walking over the course of the experience.
The #WhatLiftsYou Angel Wings
If you're looking for a great photo, find the large angel-wing mural by artist Kelsey Montague.
Montague's interactive #WhatLiftsYou murals can be found in cities around the world, and the wings at Nearest Green Distillery have become one of the property's most recognizable photo opportunities.
From Our Experience
Leave yourself a few extra minutes after the tour for photos around the property. The grounds are beautiful, and the Kelsey Montague wings are an easy spot for a group photo before heading back to Nashville.
The Uncle Nearest Whiskey Tasting
For us, this is one of the highlights.
The guided tasting takes place in a striking, modern tasting room designed to give you the feeling of being surrounded by a whiskey barrel.
A typical tasting experienced by our guests has included several expressions from the Uncle Nearest portfolio, such as:
Uncle Nearest 1884
Uncle Nearest 1856
Uncle Nearest Rye
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel
The exact lineup can change, so don't treat that list as a guarantee. But the tasting gives you an excellent opportunity to compare different styles side by side.
What Should You Try?
If you're newer to whiskey, Uncle Nearest 1856 tends to be one of the most approachable crowd favorites.
More experienced whiskey drinkers often gravitate toward the Master Blend Edition and Single Barrel expressions, where you'll find more complexity and intensity.
And don't overlook the rye.
We've had plenty of guests who say they "don't like rye" before the tasting and are surprised by how much they enjoy Uncle Nearest's version. It's distinctive enough that it's worth approaching with an open mind.
From Our Experience
One of the most common surprises is how much non-whiskey drinkers enjoy the tasting. You don't need to know anything about whiskey before you arrive. A guided tasting gives you context for what you're drinking and an opportunity to discover what you actually like.
Don't Miss the Distillery-Exclusive Whiskey
If you're a whiskey collector—or you're looking for something you can't simply pick up at your neighborhood liquor store—leave some room in your suitcase.
Nearest Green Distillery is the exclusive home of the Master Blend Edition, making it one of our favorite bottle recommendations for visitors.
The gift shop also carries the core Uncle Nearest lineup along with other special and limited offerings when available.
Beyond whiskey, you'll find shirts, hats, books and other Uncle Nearest merchandise.
From Our Experience
If you're going to buy one souvenir and you enjoy whiskey, look at the distillery-exclusive bottles first. You can always buy a T-shirt later. A bottle you can only pick up at Nearest Green Distillery is a much better reminder of the trip.
Where to Eat at Uncle Nearest
Unlike some distillery experiences, you don't necessarily have to leave the property when you're ready for lunch.
Barrel House BBQ
Barrel House BBQ is located directly on the Nearest Green Distillery property and is our usual recommendation when guests want something quick, local and satisfying.
It's the second location of the Lynchburg barbecue restaurant and works particularly well when you're trying to fit lunch into a distillery day.
Our guests can usually eat in about 30 minutes. When timing is tighter, getting food to go and eating on the ride back to Nashville can also be an option on a Tennessee Whiskey Tours trip.
And there's one menu item we have to mention:
The Grilled Cheese on Crack.
It's exactly the sort of unapologetic Tennessee road-trip food the name suggests and has become a favorite recommendation for our guests.
What Is the Humble Baron?
The Humble Baron gives Nearest Green Distillery something you won't find at most whiskey distilleries: a legitimate destination bar.
And it's not a small one.
The centerpiece is a 518-foot bar certified by Guinness World Records as the world's longest bar, with more than 200 barstools wrapped around it.
The space also features a stage for live music and a cocktail program built around Uncle Nearest whiskey.
If it's open and you have time after your tour, it's worth seeing even if you're only stopping for one drink.
There is one important thing to keep in mind: Humble Baron operates on its own schedule.
If you're traveling with Tennessee Whiskey Tours, a stop for a cocktail at Humble Baron isn't something we guarantee. Its hours and how busy it is are outside our control, and our priority is making sure the scheduled distillery tour and tasting operate as planned.
If visiting Humble Baron is especially important to you, check its current hours before your trip.
From Our Experience
Think of Humble Baron as a bonus rather than part of the standard distillery tour. If the timing works, it's a great place to grab a cocktail. But don't build your entire visit around having time there.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Uncle Nearest?
There really isn't a bad season to visit, but spring and fall are our favorites.
The property is scenic, so comfortable temperatures make walking around the grounds particularly enjoyable.
Friday and Saturday tend to be the busiest days. That said, the distillery is well equipped for visitors, and busy doesn't necessarily mean overwhelming.
More important than choosing the "perfect" day is making your reservation in advance.
Tours can fill, particularly during popular travel periods.
Weather generally doesn't have a major impact on the experience, so we wouldn't change an entire Nashville itinerary because the forecast isn't perfect.
Jack Daniel's vs. Uncle Nearest: Which Should You Visit?
We get this question all the time, and there isn't a wrong answer.
They're connected by history, but they're very different visitor experiences.
Choose Jack Daniel's if...
You're especially interested in seeing a large, historic whiskey-making operation.
The Jack Daniel Distillery is larger, and the experience gives visitors a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at whiskey production on a significant scale.
You also have the town of Lynchburg immediately outside the distillery, with restaurants, shops and the historic town square to explore.
Choose Uncle Nearest if...
The story behind the whiskey is especially important to you.
Nearest Green Distillery does an excellent job exploring African American history, the Green family's legacy, and an important chapter of American whiskey history that went largely unrecognized outside Lynchburg for generations.
The experience is also more intimate, and the tasting—including the opportunity to sample distillery-exclusive whiskey—is excellent.
What about the whiskey?
There's great whiskey at both.
We wouldn't choose between the two based solely on which makes "better" whiskey. They're different experiences, and that's what makes visiting both so interesting.
Can You Visit Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's in the Same Day?
Absolutely.
In fact, if whiskey and history are major reasons for your trip to Tennessee, visiting both provides context you don't get from seeing either one alone.
Nearest Green and Jack Daniel are connected by one of the most fascinating stories in American whiskey. Visiting both distilleries lets you experience that shared history from two different perspectives.
It does make for a full day, however.
Jack Daniel's is in Lynchburg and Nearest Green Distillery is in Shelbyville, so you'll need to coordinate two tour reservations, travel between the properties, meals, and transportation to and from Nashville.
Tennessee Whiskey Tours offers a Jack Daniel's + Uncle Nearest Tour specifically for guests who want to experience both without coordinating all of those logistics themselves.
From Our Experience
If you have the time, doing both is absolutely worthwhile. Jack Daniel's gives you the scale, production and historic Lynchburg experience. Uncle Nearest provides a more intimate experience centered around Nearest Green's story and legacy. They complement each other extremely well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Uncle Nearest
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Nathan "Nearest" Green was the first known African American master distiller. He played an important role in teaching a young Jack Daniel the craft of whiskey making and continued distilling after emancipation.
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Nearest Green Distillery is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee, approximately an hour south of Nashville.
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Yes. Barrel House BBQ is located on the property.
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No. Humble Baron is a separate bar and restaurant located on the property. Its hours differ from the distillery's tour schedule.
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Yes. The gift shop carries Uncle Nearest whiskey, and the distillery is also the exclusive place to purchase certain expressions such as Master Blend Edition.
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We think so. Much of the experience revolves around history and storytelling rather than simply tasting whiskey. We also regularly hear from guests who don't consider themselves whiskey drinkers but are pleasantly surprised by the tasting.
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Yes. The two distilleries are close enough to combine into a full-day experience, and Tennessee Whiskey Tours offers a tour from Nashville that visits both.
Driving Yourself vs. Booking Transportation from Nashville
If you're staying in Nashville, you essentially have two choices: drive yourself or arrange transportation.
Tennessee Whiskey Tours:
Roundtrip transportation from Nashville
Tour logistics coordinated for you
Everyone can enjoy the whiskey tasting
Relax during the drive
No need to depend on finding a return rideshare
Informative local guide
Driving Yourself:
Set your own schedule
Book and coordinate your own reservations
Someone needs to handle the drive back
Approximately an hour each way
Rideshare isn't needed
Explore independently
Driving yourself makes perfect sense for some visitors, particularly if you have your own vehicle and want complete control over your schedule.
If everyone in your group wants to participate in the tasting—or you'd simply rather not spend two hours of your vacation behind the wheel—organized transportation makes the day much easier.
Is the Uncle Nearest Distillery Tour Worth It?
Yes—particularly if you're interested in both whiskey and American history.
Nearest Green Distillery offers a very different experience from the larger, older distilleries you'll find elsewhere in Tennessee. The property is beautiful, the tasting is excellent, and the tour tells a story that deserves to be better known.
For whiskey enthusiasts, the distillery-exclusive expressions alone make the gift shop worth exploring.
For history enthusiasts, Nearest Green's story and the Green family's place in American whiskey provide a perspective you won't get from most distillery tours.
And for people who aren't sure they even like whiskey? You might be surprised.
We hear that all the time.
If you're visiting Nashville and would rather leave the driving and planning to someone else, Tennessee Whiskey Tours offers trips from Nashville to Nearest Green Distillery Thursday through Sunday, including transportation and the standard 1.5-hour distillery tour and tasting.
Or, if you want to understand the larger story connecting two of Tennessee whiskey's most important names, consider spending the day visiting both Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's.
Either way, make your reservations early, give yourself enough time to enjoy the property, and don't leave without checking what's available in the gift shop.