Fawn Weaver is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, the fastest-growing American whiskey brand, now valued at over $1 billion. In this interview with ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath, Weaver shares her extraordinary journey—from leaving home at 15 to disrupting a centuries-old industry. She opens up about the early challenges of launching a whiskey company as a Black woman, her strategic approach to raising capital, and why she refuses to take venture funding.<br /><br />Weaver also reveals her bold plan to build a spirits conglomerate—one that includes vodka and cognac brands—while staying true to her mission. She talks about tariffs, shifting consumer habits, and the importance of legacy. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, Weaver’s vision, grit, and strategy offer a masterclass in building something that lasts.<br /><br />00:00 – Intro: Meet Fawn Weaver of Uncle Nearest<br />00:27 – From Homeless Shelters to CEO<br />01:40 – How Adversity Shaped Her Leadership<br />03:33 – The Untold Story Behind Uncle Nearest<br />05:27 – How Jack Daniel Honored Nearest Green<br />08:13 – Reviving a Legacy Whiskey Recipe<br />10:33 – Building a Billion-Dollar Brand<br />11:55 – Breaking Through the Distribution Barrier<br />13:53 – How Her Bestseller Helps the Business<br />16:40 – Race, Gender & the Spirits Industry<br />19:16 – Meet the Master Blender: Victoria Butler<br />22:28 – Beyond Whiskey: Building a Spirits Conglomerate<br />25:38 – Why She Bought a Vodka and Cognac Brand<br />27:52 – A House of Brands, Not a Single Label<br />29:04 – Her Unique Investor Philosophy<br />31:37 – How She Prepared for Tariffs<br />34:48 – Planning Two Years Ahead for Economic Shocks<br />38:45 – Her Take on the “Drinking Less” Trend<br />41:54 – Why She’ll Never Sell the Company<br />42:50 – Lessons from the Harvard Case Study<br />45:56 – The First Investor Who Took a Chance<br />48:18 – “You Only Need One” Investor Mindset<br />49:14 – What’s Next: Vodka and Cognac Launches<br /><br /><br />Subscribe to FORBES: https://www.youtube.com/user/Forbes?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:<br /><br />https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript<br /><br />Stay Connected<br />Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com<br />Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes<br />Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes<br />Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes<br />More From Forbes: http://forbes.com<br /><br />Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.
