Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History

Interview with Victoria Butler, November 4, 2022

Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries

 

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00:00:00 - Introduction and background

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Partial Transcript: Hello, my name is JWells.

Segment Synopsis: Butler is introduced as being the first black woman master whiskey blender. She also explains that she is the great-granddaughter of Nearest Green.

Keywords: Descendants; Green, Nearest; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green

Subjects: African American women.; Brewers; Distilleries; Distillers; Families; Granddaughters; Great-granddaughters; Great-grandfathers; Whiskey.; Women, Black.

00:01:02 - The relationship between Nearest Green and Jack Daniel

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Partial Transcript: So tell me about his story the way your great-grandma or your grandma told it to you.

Segment Synopsis: Butler explains the story of her great-grandfather, Nearest Green. She talks about what her grandmother told her about how Nearest was a mentor and friend to Jack Daniel.

Keywords: Business partners; Enslaved people; Green, Nearest; Jack Daniel; Mentees; Mentors; Nearest Green; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Apprentices; Daniel, Jack, 1846-1911; Distilleries; Distillers; Family histories; History; Mentoring in business.; Slavery; Slaves; Teachers; Vocational guidance.

00:03:24 - Career goals when growing up

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Partial Transcript: Okay, I want to take just a pause away from that and talk about what you imagined for yourself as you were younger.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about what she imagined her future would look like when she was growing up. She talks about how her grandmother wanted her to be a lawyer. She then explains what drew her to wanting to be a police commissioner and her thirty-year career in law enforcement.

Keywords: Career aspirations; Career goals; Police commissioners

Subjects: Careers; Grandchildren; Granddaughters; Grandmothers; Law enforcement.; Lawyers

00:04:59 - Views on college

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Partial Transcript: So, how were you, um, raised-what were you raised to think about in terms of education or college or higher education?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about her views on college and education. She provides stories of her family members including her older sister who sought an education and she also describes how she felt when she first started college.

Keywords: Higher education; Role models; The Great Equalizer

Subjects: Criminal justice; Education; Role models; Sisters; Universities and colleges.

00:07:31 - Mentor in college

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Partial Transcript: How did you feel--or do you feel like your identity as a black woman was represented in your course material whether that be in what you were reading or your instructors or your classmates?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about how one of her law enforcement instructors helped her learn and grow during her time at university. She describes the difficulties she had with being away from home while in college.

Keywords: African American professors; African Americans in education; African Americans in higher education; Black people in education; Black people in higher education; Black professors; Homesickness; Instructors; MTSU; Mentors; Professors

Subjects: African American women.; Criminal justice; Identity; Law enforcement.; Mentoring in education.; Middle Tennessee State University; Universities and colleges.; Women, Black

GPS: Middle Tennessee State University
Map Coordinates: 35.849, -86.365
00:09:46 - Connections made with classmates during college

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Partial Transcript: You said that you also kind of built this network or a community, um, amongst, like, your classmates and other people at the university.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about some of what she looked for in the people she built connections with in college. She describes the closeness, loyalty, and laughter she experienced with the people she met in college. She talks about the closeness she still has with her classmates.

Keywords: MTSU

Subjects: Classmates; Education; Friendship.; Middle Tennessee State University; Universities and colleges.

GPS: Middle Tennessee State University
Map Coordinates: 35.849, -86.365
00:11:13 - Transitioning away from the goal of becoming a police commissioner

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Partial Transcript: When, um, you--earlier you said that what you imagined yourself to be or what you were aiming to be was a police commissioner but that didn't happen.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the what led her away from her goal of being a police commissioner. She talks about getting married while in school and why she passed up a job as a police negotiator. She also talks about entering the federal system and whether she has regrets about not joining local law enforcement.

Keywords: Career aspirations; Career goals; Federal employees; Federal jobs; Federal system; Local law enforcement; Police commissioners; Police negotiators; Police officers; Spouses; Young marriages

Subjects: Careers; Law enforcement.; Marriage; Police.

00:13:20 - Typical day at work supervising criminal and forensic analysts

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Partial Transcript: What was your day-to-day role like in that position?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about her typical day at work when she worked in law enforcement. She describes leading forensic and criminal analysts. She also describes how she has excelled at leading people and communicating, and why she feels her grandmother is proud of her.

Keywords: Career accomplishments; Criminal analysts; Forensic analysts; Forensics; Pride

Subjects: Careers; Communication; Grandmothers; Law enforcement.; Leaders; Leadership; Supervisors.

00:15:07 - Claiming space as a senior analyst

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Partial Transcript: Tell me how you claimed your space in each of these different positions while you were in law enforcement.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about how she was able to claim her space in law enforcement. She describes her willingness to work hard. She also talks about her goal as a senior analyst and some of what she did for her job.

Keywords: Claiming space; Senior analysts

Subjects: Hard work; Law enforcement.; Leadership.; Management; Supervision; Supervisors

00:16:35 - Respect and disrespect for women in law enforcement

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Partial Transcript: Did you experience microaggressions as you were climbing the ladder in this male-dominated field?

Segment Synopsis: Butler discusses whether she experienced microaggressions at her office. She talks about how many women she worked with and how men treated them. She also describes characteristics about herself and actions she took that helped her gain respect in her field.

Keywords: Bias; Male dominated fields; Management styles; Prejudice; Self-respect

Subjects: Communication; Discrimination; Law enforcement.; Leadership; Male domination (Social structure); Management; Microaggressions; Patriarchy.; Sex discrimination against women.; Sexism; Sexual harassment in law enforcement; Women

00:18:37 - Aspects from law enforcement present in the role of master blender

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Partial Transcript: What do you feel from your law enforcement career has carried over into your work as a master blender?

Segment Synopsis: Butler discusses the aspects of her law enforcement career that have carried over to her work as a master blender. There is a break in the interview, in which there is an interruption before she continues her explanation. She also talks about how a lack of attention to detail could affect the brand.

Keywords: Attention to detail; Brands; Detailed tasks; Details; Ingredients; Master blenders; Whiskey blending

Subjects: Branding (Marketing); Distilleries; Distillers; Law enforcement.; Recipes; Whiskey.

00:20:53 - Opinion about whiskey before becoming master blender

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Partial Transcript: Before you became the brand's master blender, how often did you drink whiskey?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the extent to which she drank whiskey before she became master blender. She discusses whether her mother and grandmother consumed alcohol and the extent to which she consumed alcohol in her younger years.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Teetotalers; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Alcohol; Beer; Distilleries; Distillers; Whiskey.

00:21:50 - First whiskey blending session

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Partial Transcript: Alright, I want to--now I'm going to ask you to tell me another story from your perspective.

Segment Synopsis: Butler tells the story of what made her say yes to being a master blender. She describes her desire to carry on her family's legacy. She also talks about the first blending session she attended.

Keywords: Blending; Blending sessions; Family legacies; Learning to blend; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey; Whiskey blending

Subjects: Distilleries; Distillers; Families; Legacies; Whiskey.

00:23:54 - Attention to detail while creating premium whiskey

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Partial Transcript: Tell me about that attention to detail.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the importance of attention to detail while blending Uncle Nearest's Premium Whiskey. She talks about the importance of creating a premium product and why she feels the whiskey should be smooth after drinking it.

Keywords: Aftertaste; Alcohol consumption; Burning; Finish; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Smoothness; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Alcohol; Bitterness (Taste); Flavor.; Sweetness (Taste); Taste.; Whiskey.

00:25:19 - Learning to blend whiskey

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Partial Transcript: And you mentioned that you--before that, you hadn't thought about doing something like that before, so how did you prepare?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about how she learned to blend whiskey. She discusses the importance of studying and saying yes to new opportunities. She also describes the classes she took to become a certified bourbon steward and talking to experts.

Keywords: Bourbon stewards; Certifications; Certified bourbon stewards; Classes; Experts; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Opportunities; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Courses and lectures; Distilleries; Distillers; Learning.; Risk-taking (Psychology); Training; Whiskey.

00:28:54 - Continuing Nearest Green's legacy

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Partial Transcript: You mentioned that it is interesting to you that it took so long--or it took until this tasting a long time after you had been drinking whiskey to realize you had this passion.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about when she realized she was carrying on Nearest Green's legacy.

Keywords: Family legacies; Green, Nearest; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green; Nearest Green Distillery; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Distilleries; Distillers; Family histories; History; Legacies; Whiskey.

00:29:51 - Developing an award-winning flavor profile

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Partial Transcript: So you said yes.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about how she developed her award-winning flavor profile. She discusses her starting point and whether consistency is important.

Keywords: Batches; Consistency; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Premium whiskeys; Small batches; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Businesswomen.; Distilleries; Distillers; Flavor.; Whiskey.

00:31:07 - Palate protection process

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Partial Transcript: I've heard you say before that your palate protecting process is not spitting whiskey out, um, no water, no drinking any other whiskey.

Segment Synopsis: Butler discusses her palate protection process. She names practices she uses such as not spitting out the whiskey and not eating or drinking anything else during the process. She explains why it is important to protect the palate during the process.

Keywords: Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Palate protection; Palates; Samples; Taste testing; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey; Whiskey blending

Subjects: Distilleries; Distillers; Flavor.; Sampling; Taste.; Whiskey.

00:32:43 - Unique features of Butler's master whiskey blending

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Partial Transcript: What are some other things that you feel you do differently in your process than other blenders?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about techniques she does differently compared to other blenders. She talks about sampling and blending, reducing down, and palate protection.

Keywords: Blending; Blends; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Palate protection; Palates; Reducing down; Reduction; Samples; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Distilleries; Distillers; Sampling; Whiskey industry; Whiskey.

00:33:56 - Initial views of the whiskey industry

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Partial Transcript: What are, what were some of your initial views of the whiskey industry when you went from consumer to contributor?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about her initial views of the whiskey industry. She discusses the wealth of knowledge she had to learn.

Keywords: Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey; Whiskey business

Subjects: Distilleries; Distillers; Education; Expertise; Whiskey industry; Whiskey.

00:34:37 - Networking in the whiskey industry

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Partial Transcript: Talk to me about the networking side of the industry.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about networking in the whiskey industry. She talks about her desire to make friends with people from other brands.

Keywords: Business connections; Connections; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green Distillery; Networking; Networks; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Business enterprises; Competition; Distilleries; Distillers; Whiskey industry; Whiskey.

00:35:57 - Changes in the whiskey industry

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Partial Transcript: What are some things that you witnessed has changed from when you first joined the industry until now?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about what has changed since she first joined the whiskey industry to the present day. She talks about the increased number of women in positions of power. She discusses whether she has faced challenges as a black woman and changes she feels should occur in the industry.

Keywords: Black women as leaders; Black women in management roles; Black women in power; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Networking; Women in management roles; Women in power

Subjects: African American women.; Businesswomen.; Distilleries; Distillers; Weaver, Fawn, 1976-; Whiskey industry; Whiskey.; Women.

00:39:35 - Director of Administration for the Nearest Green Foundation

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Partial Transcript: Other than master blender, are there other roles that you serve with-

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the other roles she serves. She talks about first joining the Nearest Green Foundation as an administrator and describes how it pays for college for descendants of Nearest Green. She also talks about how this foundation has benefited her personally.

Keywords: Administrators; Building relationships; Data; Data analytics; Families; Family; Giving back; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green; Nearest Green Distillery; Philanthropy; Relationships; Scholarships; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: Leadership.; Universities and colleges.

00:43:20 - Approach to communication

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Partial Transcript: Talk to me about your approach with-because you speak to a lot of people, um, in your various roles.

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about her approach to communication with others. She explains that she tries to stay humble and she talks about the importance of relationships.

Keywords: Helping others; Mentors; Mentorship; Relationship building; Travelling

Subjects: Business communication.; Communication.; Humility.; Travel; Women--Communication.

00:44:49 - Discussing the phrase "pull as you climb"

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Partial Transcript: You used the phrase earlier, "Pull as you climb."

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the saying, "Pull as you climb." She explains its significance to the Nearest Green Foundation. She also discusses how she uses that phrase as a way to help others.

Keywords: Nearest Green; Nearest Green Distillery; Nearest Green Foundation

Subjects: Caring.; Encouragement.; Helping behavior.; Mentoring in business.; Mentoring in education.; Sayings.

00:46:41 - The importance of storytelling

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Partial Transcript: As someone whose family's legacy has been preserved through this storytelling and, you know, just, um, oral history, can you speak to the significance of storytelling?

Segment Synopsis: Butler explains the significance of storytelling in her life.

Keywords: Oral tradition; Preservation; Preserving

Subjects: Legacy; Oral histories.; Storytelling.

00:47:52 - The impact of Nearest Green's story

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Partial Transcript: What are some of the differences you noticed within your family when the story became so publicized?

Segment Synopsis: Butler talks about the sense of pride she feels in knowing Nearest Green's story is well-known today. She talks about the ways the story has affected her family. She also discusses the ways the Nearest Green Foundation's scholarships have brought her family together.

Keywords: Green, Nearest; Master blenders; Master whiskey blenders; Nearest Green; Nearest Green Distillery; Scholarships; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: African Americans--History.; Black people--History.; Education; Family histories.; Family history.; Foundations; Juneteenth; Scholarships; Universities and colleges.

00:50:48 - Final thoughts

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Partial Transcript: Is there anything else that I haven't asked you about that you feel is important to talk about?

Segment Synopsis: Butler provides a few final thoughts. She talks about the importance of the Nearest Green Foundation and the way the Nearest Green Distillery helped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID; Coronavirus; Giving back; Nearest Green; Nearest Green Distillery; Nearest Green Foundation; PPE; Philanthropy; Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Charities; Distilleries; Distillers; Personal protective equipment.; Whiskey.