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Two things that flourish in Middle Tennessee are horse farms and whiskey.
Sand Creek Farm will combine the two. Photo by Terence Corrigan.

Shelbyville adds a stop

on the whiskey tour

H story by John i. cArney

edford county is a part of the “jack trail,” one of several preserving the previous name. weaver said there are currently
tourism routes promoted by the tennessee Department of about 40 tennessee walking horses and 20 quarter horses
btourist Development, and each day people pass through stabled at sand creek; the plan going forward will still involve
the county on their way to the jack Daniel Distillery in lynchburg walking horses but will add other breeds as well.
or the george Dickel Distillery near normandy. uncle nearest whiskey is named for nathan “nearest”
soon, bedford county will have its own whiskey-related green, the slave who reportedly taught jack Daniel the craft of
destination, the nearest green Distillery at sand creek farms. distilling. green was brought to wide public attention in a june
sand creek farm is an equine facility on u.s. 231 north. 2016 story by the new york times, and the jack Daniel Distillery
the beautiful facility, with is green-and-white color scheme, has is now mentioning green’s role in its public tours.
served for decades as a welcoming landmark. the hay barn at the site will be converted to a 3,500-barrel
“sand creek has always been known as the gateway to rickhouse. weaver said work on the hay barn was supposed to
shelbyville,” said fawn weaver, president of uncle nearest have started in january. behind the hay barn, a new bottling
premium whiskey and founder of the nearest green foundation. plant, a distillery and additional rickhouses will be constructed.
In December 2017, weaver announced plans to develop the the distillery will not be built immediately; uncle nearest
facility as a showplace which will combine sand creek farms’ whiskey currently has an agreement with a third-party distiller,
equine heritage with a whiskey production facility and tourist and for the moment that company supplies the company’s
attraction. product.
horses and cattle will continue to be raised at the site, which “we don’t have a need to bring in additional capacity at this
will be known as “nearest green Distillery at sand creek farms,” time,” said weaver. the long-term plans announced friday do

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