Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver Affirms Her ‘Team Remains Unshaken And Unmoved’ After Judge Orders Receivership For Distillery

Fawn Weaver encourages Uncle Nearest consumers to remain headstrong despite reports of receivership.

Weaver is the co-founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, a whiskey brand honoring Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man. Her husband, Keith, serves as co-founder. Uncle Nearest hit unicorn status in 2024 and became one of the fastest-growing American whiskey brands, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.

The company now faces a challenge, though Fawn maintains she is “unmoved,” after its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America of Louisville, KY, filed a lawsuit on July 28. The lawsuit states that the couple, Nearest Green Whiskey Distillery, and its Uncle Nearest brand defaulted on more than $108 million in loans and would miss additional payments.

Uncle Nearest has flagged the actions of Former Chief Financial Officer, Mike Senzaki, claiming he inflated the company’s whiskey barrel inventory. The Lynchburg Times reports that this allegedly led to the company receiving a $24 million credit increase from Farm Credit Mid-America. Weaver and executives claim Senzaki acted independently and became aware of the matter from the 2024 inventory reports. Farm Credit Mid-America is seeking to acquire the 458-acre distillery in Shelbyville, TN, and an adjacent real estate company, as AFROTECH™ mentioned.

On Aug. 14, a federal judge placed Uncle Nearest under a court-appointed receivership. The Weavers were encouraged to continue marketing the brand, and Farm Credit Mid-America shares the same sentiment. After the announcement, Fawn Weaver took to her Instagram account to share her response to the receivership.

“Y’all know I’m under a gag order because so many have reported it. But here’s what I know I can say. Two points, and make sure to share this, since lies tend to spread faster than the truth. Number one, keep clearing the shelves. Every bottle you move tells our distributors and partners the same thing. We’ve built one of the strongest and most resilient brands in American history,” she said in an Instagram video.

Weaver added, “Number two, don’t believe the fake news. Some reports claim I no longer own Uncle Nearest, that I’m not running it. Let me be clear. I built this company. I own this company. I run this company. And my leadership team, who have all been with me for 6 to 8 years, are right here building alongside me. Our team remains unshaken and unmoved. If that ever changes, you’ll hear it directly from me.”