Scenic Roots

"Scenic Roots" offers conversations that matter in the heart of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.From the mountains to the river, our conversations are rooted deep within every corner of our community - reflecting who we are, who we were and who we can become.We engage with the news that affects our community, behind and beyond the headlines. We build bridges that span from creators and innovators to storytellers and the outdoors. We focus on our challenges as many communities in one - as we celebrate what inspires us. We resonate with countless voices - in words and spaces, sounds and songs.We are "Scenic Roots."Ray Bassett hosts and produces "Scenic Roots" at WUTC.

“The A List” Preview: Fawn Weaver of Uncle Nearest

WUTC

Published May 17, 2022 at 2:47 PM EDT

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Fawn Weaver

Uncle Nearest

In 2016, the New York Times published a story uncovering the "secret ingredient" behind renowned whiskey brand, Jack Daniel's: the help from an enslaved man by the name of Nearest Green.

At that time, the brand was beginning to embrace the complicated ties between whiskey-making and slavery - a history that notoriously excluded Black laborers from the discussion for generations.

When Fawn Weaver read that story about Nearest Green, her life took a dramatic and surprising turn.

She is now the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey - working to cement the legacy of Nearest Green with every bottle sold.

On Thursday night at 8:30 PM, “The A List with Alison Lebovitz” from our public media partner WTCI PBS visits the distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee - and Fawn talks to Alison about the business of preserving one man's story.