Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Grant Sidney, Inc. She is the author of the bestselling books The Argument-Free Marriage and Happy Wives Club.

Weaver's career began in the public relations and hospitality fields. She launched a public relations and special events firm in 1996. From 1998 to 2003, she served as a business manager for a restaurant corporation. Weaver later began working in the hospitality industry, becoming head of special events and catering for Viceroy Hotels and general manager for hotel operator Dimension Development Co.

While in Singapore on a trip with her husband in June 2016, Weaver came across a photo published in The New York Times that, after further investigation, uncovered the hidden history behind the creation of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The photo was a group shot of Jack Daniel, founder of Jack Daniel Distillery and the eponymous whiskey, and the original workers of the distillery. Included front and center in the photo was George Green, the son of Nathan "Nearest" Green (nicknamed Uncle Nearest,) a master whiskey distiller and formerly enslaved man. At the time of the photo's publication, his exact identity had not been confirmed, but it was recognized that he was likely one of Nathan's sons. The fact that Nearest Green taught the practice of distillery to Daniel had been an open secret for some time, but the company had just recently begun acknowledging the fact.

After discovering a book called Jack Daniel's Legacy, Weaver began researching the story behind Jack Daniel's Whiskey. Her work attracted a large following. A total of twenty archivists, archeologists, genealogists, and historians volunteered to help uncover the story for free. Weaver traveled to Lynchburg, Tennessee for more research. On their first day there, while in the local library doing research, Weaver and her husband were approached by the oldest living descendant of Jack Daniel; the librarian there had told the relative about Weaver’s interest. The relative told Weaver that the original Jack Daniel distillery building was for sale, and after touring it, Weaver put in an offer to buy it. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey was officially founded in 2016, and the whiskey launched in July 2017.

The whiskey was an immediate success. Uncle Nearest has been named the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in United States history. Within the first two years of its establishment, it expanded sales to all fifty states and twelve total countries. It is also the best-selling spirit brand of all time founded by an African American and one of the most awarded whiskey brands in America.

Grant Sidney, Inc. is a private investment firm by Weaver. It owns Uncle Nearest, Inc. which in turn owns Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Nearest Green Distillery, Uncle Nearest's distillery.

Weaver launched the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund in June 2021 with $50 million. The fund invests in fast-growing, minority-owned spirit brands. She also founded the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides full scholarships to all descendants of Nearest Green.