<BillNo> <Sponsor> SENATE RESOLUTION 2 By Akbari SR0002 002377 - 1 - A RESOLUTION to recognize Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first Black female master blender. WHEREAS, the Volunteer State is proud to be the home of a number of historic, pioneering women, including the inspirational Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, who is the first Black female master blender in the premium whiskey industry in the nation; and WHEREAS, an esteemed member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Victoria Eady Butler will be the keynote speaker at the Founders Day Celebration of the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Greater Imani Church The Cathedral of Faith in Memphis; and WHEREAS, Victoria Eady Butler is the great-great-granddaughter of pioneering distiller Nathan "Nearest" Green, whose legacy has been restored and reborn with the establishment of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey through the efforts of Ms. Butler and CEO and founder Fawn Weaver; and WHEREAS, prior to joining Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Ms. Butler worked as an analytical manager for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center in Nashville before briefly retiring and immediately being invited to work at Uncle Nearest; and WHEREAS, she started in an administrative role with the Nearest Green Foundation but quickly transitioned to master blender after successfully curating a batch of whiskey for the brand that became the distillery's first award-winning product; and - 2 - 002377 WHEREAS, in addition to her duties as master blender, she now oversees the Nearest Green Foundation while continuing to grow her knowledge and experience in the premium whiskey industry; and WHEREAS, Victoria Eady Butler epitomizes the spirit and commitment that are characteristic of a true Tennessean; and WHEREAS, we find it appropriate to pause in our deliberations to acknowledge and applaud Victoria Eady Butler on this special occasion; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, that we honor and recognize Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first Black female master blender in the premium whiskey industry, as we extend to her our best wishes for much continued success in all her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.