Our guest this week is Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Victoria had a rather unconventional path to the whiskey world, but her story is a great one and we were excited to have this opportunity. She’s honoring the legacy of her Great-Great-Grandfather in her role as the Master Blender of one of the top trending brands in American Whiskey. Uncle Nearest honors the world's first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. It was the first spirits brand in the world to be named after a Black American. Their portfolio is the Most Awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey of 2019, 2020 & 2021.  We were excited to feature Uncle Nearest and Victoria in this week’s episode.  We hope you enjoy! 

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About Victoria Eady Butler:

Victoria Eady Butler is a relatively new face in the spirits world, but whiskey is in her blood. The Great-Great-Granddaughter of Nearest Green. African-American master distiller on record, Butler is the Master Blender of the award-winning Unce Nearest Premium Whiskey. Victoria oversees the blending process of Uncle Nearest whiskeys as well as the selection of all 1820 Single Barrels. Butler also serves as a member of Uncle Nearests executive team and oversees the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(s)(3) non-profit organization that provides scholarships to Nearest Green's descendants that is funded, in part, by the sales of Uncle Nearest whiskey. 

Butler blended the very first batch of 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, which launched in July 2019, and was appointed Master Blender in November 2019 after the immense success of the first two batches. Since then, Butler has taken many courses to hone her skills, including becoming an Executive Bourbon Steward through Stave & Thief Society in Louisville, KY, the first bourbon certification program recognized by the bourbon industry. 

Prior to joining the Uncle Nearest team in March 2019, Butler worked as an Analytical Manager with the Regional Organized Crime Information Center in Nashville, which she joined upon graduating Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Butler had just retired from a more than 30-year tenure when Fawn Weaver, Co-Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, approached her about becoming involved in the Uncle Nearest brand. The opportunity to carry on her family legacy first-hand and to help to concrete Nearest's name in history was one that she couldn't pass up. 

Butler is a mother, grandmother and a Tennessee native, currently residing in Murfreesboro, TN located just 20 miles up the road from the current Nearest Green Distillery. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and volunteering with several non-profit organizations. She's also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Coverage of Uncle Nearest:

• The Top Trending American Whiskeys of 2022 per ‘Drinks International’ 
• Uncle Nearest Is Shaking Up the Spirits Realm - The Manual
• Uncle Nearest's Eady Butler Becomes First to Win Back to Back Master Blender of Year Awards - Fred Minnick
• Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's Partner to Support Black Distillers | VinePair
• How Fawn Weaver Created Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey From Hidden History
• All-female leadership team guides Uncle Nearest whiskey to historic growth
• WineMag.com - 5 Questions with Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest
• Q&A: Uncle Nearest whiskey blender to visit Columbus
• Uncle Nearest hits $100m in sales - The Spirits Business
• Uncle Nearest Releases New Rye Whiskey – Robb Report
• Black-Owned, Award Winning Whiskey Brand 'Uncle Nearest' Tops Esteemed Inc. 5000 List
• Uncle Nearest Rye - Story by David Levine for Malt Review