US-based multi-spirits business Uncle Nearest has recruited an ex-Brown-Forman executive to sit on its board of directors.
Mark McCallum, who rose to become chief brands officer by the end of his near-17-year tenure with the Jack Daniel’s brand owner, will sit as an independent director at Uncle Nearest. Since stepping away at the end of 2019, McCallum (below) has assumed board positions at several companies, including holding the chair at Vermont-based craft distiller Caledonia Spirits.
Uncle Nearest, which commenced operations in Tennessee in 2017, described the appointment as a signal of its “commitment to global expansion, category leadership and honouring the legacy of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green”, who was recognised by Brown-Forman as Jack Daniel’s first master distiller, also in 2017.
The company’s co-founder, Fawn Weaver, first met McCallum when he was president of Jack Daniel’s from 2015 to 2018.
“As you can imagine, I was navigating an understandably delicate relationship,” said McCallum. “Fawn was launching a brand that intersected with the rich history of Jack Daniel’s, while I was responsible for protecting our trademarks and ensuring we accurately honoured our legacy. It was important to acknowledge Nearest Green’s role while continuing to grow the Jack brand.”
As well as owning the Uncle Nearest distillery and American whiskey brand, the company also became “the largest Grande Champagne vineyard owner” in France’s Cognac region 17 months ago and acquired Square One Organic Spirits, producer of the namesake vodka brand, in May.
Square One has been lined up for a relaunch later this year while an “all-new cognac brand” will be unveiled in the coming years.
