A Toast to Uncle Nearest: Americana’s Premium Whiskey Dinner on Aug. 29 Honors Legacy of former enslaved Black man who taught Jack Daniels

You know the name Jack Daniels, but do you know the name of the formerly enslaved Black man who taught the whiskey maker his craft? Vivette Perry, general manager at Americana, wants you to know: Nearest Green, also known as Uncle Nearest.

Perry, who began at Americana in 2011, as a server and is now the general manager, is excited about the upcoming Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey Dinner. The event features a multi-course dinner paired with Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium, Rye, Single Barrel and 1884 Small Batch. It will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Americana, 1312 Locust, Des Moines, IA. The price is $150. Purchase tickets here.

Perry shared details with Black Iowa News about why she wanted to host this dinner, highlighting a hidden historical figure and featuring the Black-owned Uncle Nearest brand.

Black Iowa News: How did you first hear about Nearest Green?

Vivette: The story of Nearest Green was unknown to me until I visited the Jack Daniels Distillery in 2017. I was not aware that an enslaved man taught Jack Daniels (a household name) how to distill whiskey. His story is displayed on the walls throughout the distillery. I was shocked when I saw this. It was always just about one man, Jack Daniels. I didn’t quite understand why no one knew this man’s story.

Black Iowa News: How did learning about his story make you feel?

Vivette: When I found out that Uncle Nearest was available in Iowa, I jumped on the opportunity to have it listed on our menu. Every year, they have an Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge that restaurants across the country participate in. I immediately crafted a cocktail to honor this man’s legacy, to whom most of the world was unknown. That feature sold like hotcakes and now lives on Americana’s menu.

Black Iowa News: What made you want to share his story with a broader audience?

Vivette: The staff has been educated on who Nearest Green was, and it is a special story that guests enjoy. When the opportunity came, and a representative of Uncle Nearest stopped by the restaurant to thank us for carrying their product, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to host Uncle Nearest for a premium whiskey dinner event at 6 p.m. Aug. 29, at Americana.