Melcher Media announced the forthcoming release of Love & Whiskey, written by Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey CEO Fawn Weaver.

With tens of thousands of copies already ordered, Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest officially goes on sale June 18. A series of tour dates also was announced.

Attendees will enjoy exclusive tastings of the finest Uncle Nearest single barrels and master blends, selected by Victoria Eady Butler, four-time Master Blender of the Year, specifically for this tour. Weaver will delve into the legacy of Nearest Green, the captivating journey of building the Uncle Nearest brand, the vision for the future of America’s first spirits empire to be built by a woman or person of color, and her personal story from homeless teen to triumph.

In between discussions, guests will have the ability to savor exquisite whiskeys under the guidance of one of the industry’s most respected Master Blenders. To write the book, Weaver embarked on a quest, assembling a team of over 30 historians, archivists, genealogists, and researchers to unearth the true story of Nearest Green.

She interviewed and spent time with over 100 of Nearest Green’s descendants, as well as numerous descendants of Jack Daniel, amassing thousands of documents from more than six states. This monumental research effort led to the creation of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which has grown into a billion-dollar enterprise and stands as the top-selling Black-founded and owned spirit brand of all time.

Love & Whiskey intertwines the lives of Nearest Green, Jack Daniel, and their descendants from 1849 to the present, alongside Weaver’s own path to establish the first spirit conglomerate founded by a woman or person of color. Upon its pre-order announcement, Love & Whiskey soared to No. 17 in the Top 100 books on Amazon, America’s largest book retailer. The book held the No. 1 spot in seven out of its eight categories throughout the week, including Women’s Memoirs, U.S. State and Local History, Culinary Biographies & Memoirs, and Black & African American Biographies. It was also heralded as the No. 1 “Mover & Shaker” on Amazon.

Additionally, the earliest pre-orders will receive an extra special touch—a copy signed by Fawn Weaver during her record-setting Guinness World Record attempt for the Longest Marathon Book Signing, where she autographed 25,005 books in 24 hours and 35 minutes.

The first of 20 Love & Whiskey: Unfiltered tour dates and locations will be:

• Washington, DC: Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the National Press Club
• Tampa, FL: Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at the Hard Rock Hotel (SOLD OUT)
• Atlanta, GA: Friday, June 21, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency
• Chicago, IL: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at DuSable Black History Museum
• Birmingham, AL: Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Hudson in BHM Airport
• Indianapolis, IN: Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Newfields
• Shelbyville, TN: Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Humble Baron
• Portland, OR: Monday, July 15, 2024, at Portland Center Stage

Stay tuned for additional dates. Tickets can be purchased at Book tour – Love & Whiskey Book (loveandwhiskeybook.com).