Uncle Nearest Receivership & Lawsuit : LIVE UPDATES
This is the LIVE UPDATE page for the ongoing saga of the Uncle Nearest Receivership which was ordered on 8/14. If you haven’t been following along, please check out this piece first. It’s a decent breakdown of how we got here. This piece here will be heavily seasoned with commentary and that will be italicized.
If you feel like sharing your story or have any tips feel free to contact me here. Your anonymity and confidentiality will be respected.
Sometimes Blogger Cat is sleepy.
UPDATE 11/12-
It’s quiet out there, but know that things are happening. By now, the Tentities (TM) should have turned over receipts, and Receiver Cat (TM) should be knee-deep in some interesting nonsense. Short update today, mainly proof of life, thank you everyone that has reached out to check on me, I’m fine, there was no Luca Brasi Cat incidents, after all he sleeps with the fishes. Today, quick hits.
Employees at the distillery are stressed. Cuts have had an impact, and they’re having to do a lot of work that used to be outsourced. Pulling weeds sucks no matter what your regular job is.
Sundays with the Weavers is not just out of touch performative nonsense, it’s also committing a cardinal sin, it’s BORING. Watching grass grow is more satisfying, trust me.
I’m working on the investor and probable investor fraud angle of this story, but it’s long, heavy, and frankly it likely won’t be published until after the sale. I’m also unsure if I’m really equipped to tell this story due to the complexity. I’m learning things, and eventually I’ll get it done, but mercy me….
While everyone is waiting on court documents and things of that nature that are public, there are things we cannot know, like what the SEC/FBI/FINRA etc.. are up to. They can’t be sitting on their hands here can they?
I’ve had a few people ask what I think the valuation of UN will be after they shed all of their junk assets that have nothing to do with whiskey production. Sorry, not all of the assets are junk, especially the brands they shanghai’d. I will place my bet at the probably far too low valuation of $80 million. Why so low? Debt. UN owes more than the money due to the bank, and who knows if the asset sales will cover all debts. Also, Molson-Coors just did a $75m write down of their acquisition of Blue Run ($78 m purchase), valuing BR at about $3m or so. Granted, the case volumes are vastly different between BR and UN, but it does reflect the market place right now, and UN cannot post quarterly growth in perpetuity the way Fawn would like you to believe. If her numbers are correct (suspect), they will come back down to earth eventually.
My guess is that once the receivership takes care of business, then the MIB’s show up.
Blogger Cat is already so tired of Sunday’s with the Unicorns. Not as tired of it as Sammy is though.
UPDATE 10/31-
Boy, did I pick a bad day or two to be entirely offline or what?. We have a lot to go over today so let’s gas up the Chrysler and get moving. There were some filings, an order signed, and some other assorted fruits and vegetables added to our plates.
First up there was obviously negotiations going on behind the scenes between the receiver and the Weaver’s. If you recall, the Weaver’s claimed the Receiver never asked for things. Sure maybe. But then after his recent filing, he clarified that he wasn’t ASKING for inclusion of the Tentities (TM), we was asking the court to clarify the order in regards to those entities. A nice way of saying, I’d like them books please.
The first document was filed as a Proposed Agreed Order. Pretty standard faire.
“Receiver Phillip G. Young, Jr. (the “Receiver”), Plaintiff Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA (“FCMA”), and Humble Baron, Inc., Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC, Grant Sidney , Inc., Uncle Nearest Spurs VI, LLC, Quill and Cask Owner, LLC, Nashwood, Inc., Classic Hops Brewing Co., Shelbyville Grand, LLC, Weaver Interwoven Family Foundation, and 4 Front Street LLC (collectively, the “Respondents”)(collectively, the “Parties”) jointly move the Court to enter the Proposed Agreed Order, attached as Exhibit A.”
Those negotiations must’ve been lively.
The second document was the details of the Agreed Order.
“All proceedings related to the Receiver’s Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order1 (the “Motion to Clarify”) are hereby stayed until further notice, pursuant to the terms outlined in this Agreed Order.”
A stay is a pause. A hold please. A literal “Let’s table this” for now.
“For clarity of the record, the Receiver acknowledges that none of the bank statements or other financial documents referenced in this Agreed Order had been previously requested from the Respondents, including prior to the filing of the Respondents’ Motion for a Hearing. Nothing in this order shall be construed to imply that any party is not or has not been cooperative with the Receiver.”
A nice way to mend fences by the receiver. He likely found the Weaver’s a bit frosty after or before their Humble Baron filing, and this was a way to de-ice the plane they’re all flying on. Also, he maybe didn’t ask because maybe he was told the records were all gone missing.
“Within seven (7) days of the entry of this Agreed Order, each of the Respondents shall provide to the Receiver two (2) years of bank statements, to the extent that they\ maintained bank accounts, including check copies, deposit slips, and wire requests (to the extent included with the bank statements or otherwise readily available)”.
My absolute favorite part of this is the “to the extent that they maintained…” Like come on, they didn’t even have a Cap table for a self-declared $1.1 billion company. Does anyone reading this think they balanced their checkbooks for Grant Sidney? Remember, they have a “Blame Senzaki Card” (TM) to play, because he was also CFO of Grant Sidney back in the day. Also, they have seven days from the order to deliver this stuff to the receiver, hopefully it won’t be delayed because of bottle signings.
Receiver cat is going to have to pull more than a few all-nighters, or he won’t.
“Following the receipt of the bank statements by the Receiver, the Receiver shall have fourteen (14) days to review all provided statements.”
14 days is a lot of time when you have a team of professionals that do this work for real.
“If the Receiver determines, in his sole discretion, that additional statements or other documents, including check copies, deposit slips, and wire requests, are needed following his initial review, the Receiver may request up to an additional three (3) years of bank statements and such other related documents for any one or all of the Respondent entities. Respondents shall have ten (10) days from the date of the request to provide such further documents to the Receiver or any explanation if those documents are not available.”
This is the stick part. If you don’t deliver what’s being asked (2 yrs of statements), then the receiver can ask for 3 additional years without needing to ask the court. If the Tentities, or even one of them breach this part of the agreement….it’s a rolled up newspaper to the nose. .
“The Receiver shall have fourteen (14) days from receipt of any additional statements and documents to review the provided records.”
Keep in mind, we are talking 2 years of documents from Grant Sidney, and Humble Baron. These two alone will take a lot of digging through, and hopefully a rosetta stone or two to figure it all out. The others will likely be childs play.
“Following his review of the bank records, the Receiver shall provide any additional questions, evidence and/or argument regarding the Motion to Clarify to the Respondents, who shall have seven (7) days to provide responses or clarification to the Receiver’s questions, evidence and/or argument.”
Essentially the judge is laying down the rules of the game here. You give documents. Receiver asks where the other ones are. You answer or else. I’m guessing the judge is tired of people playing cute in his courtroom.
“Following the review of bank records, and opportunity of Respondents to provide clarification (if necessary), the Receiver shall file a notice with this Court requesting a hearing on the Motion to Clarify or, alternatively, providing notice that no further hearing is needed on the Motion to Clarify and he is withdrawing the Motion to Clarify.”
We won’t have a hearing if the Weaver’s give up the ghost here. We will have a hearing if the Weaver’s keep trying to dance their way around the court appointed receiver. The Receiver holds the cards here. If he comes back with “we’re cool, got everything I need, no hearing needed, that’s the end of inclusion. If he comes back with a “so Judge, what’s your Thursday morning look like?” We will have a hearing, and likely inclusion at that point. The Receiver IS the boss of all bosses right now.
Happy Halloween by the way.
“If a hearing on the Motion to Clarify is requested, the parties shall submit all supplemental briefs and memorandum no less than five (5) days prior to date set for such hearing, and all parties shall submit a witness and exhibit list no less than three (3) days prior to the hearing date.”
The judge setting timelines is so there’s no misunderstandings and no more “no one told us” nonsense.
All parties reserve all rights associated with their respective filings and positions on the Motion to Clarify.
The original parameters are unchanged, Bank wants inclusion. Weaver’s do not.
This Court retains exclusive jurisdiction with respect to all matters arising from or related to the implementation of this Agreed Order, without limitation, the authority to interpret, implement and enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreed Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
The last document was succinct.
“The Motion requests the Court enter a proposed Agreed Order that would, generally speaking, (1) direct the Non-Party Respondents to provide certain bank statements to the Receiver, (2) require the Receiver to review these bank statements in relation to the currently pending Motion for Clarification, and (3) direct the Receiver to—after having reviewed the provided bank statements and given the Non-Party Respondents the opportunity to provide any necessary clarification—advise the Court whether a hearing on the Motion for Clarification is necessary or whether the Motion for Clarification will be withdrawn.”
This is a very interesting move here. It’s an agreement that the Tentities (TM) must turn over 2 years worth of bank records to the Receiver, who will then tear into them, get clarification where needed, then decide whether to move forward with inclusion or not.
“Considering the movants’ good faith efforts to resolve this issue and the fact the Receiver is in the best position to evaluate what effect the Non-Party Respondents’ bank statements may have on the Motion for Clarification, the Joint Motion [Doc. 77] is GRANTED. The Court will enter the Agreed Order contemporaneously. Furthermore, to ensure the Court remains informed of the movants’ progress towards completing the requirements laid out in the Agreed Order, the Receiver is hereby ORDERED to submit brief reports stating which obligations under the Agreed Order have been completed and which remain outstanding every thirty days. This reporting obligation shall continue until the Receiver files the notice described in Paragraph 8 of the Agreed Order.
SO ORDERED.”
The judge is pretty clear here. Report on progress every thirty days. The Motion to Include is under a heat lamp, and will be served if necessary.
This is a dish that will be served cold.
THOUGHTS-
On the surface, it’s easy to think that the Judge went soft or easy on the Tentities (TM). It’s also easy to think that the Receiver cowed to the Weaver’s after they went for him. What happened here is the Receiver laid some very good groundwork with his initial filing to include, which he must’ve known would provoke a reaction, which it did. Then he backed off the gas a bit, and said, well, I didn’t ask for inclusion, I asked the court what was up.
The Weaver’s then said, man why didn’t you just just ask us, he said, '“oh damn my bad can I have?” And now we are here. The Weaver’s betting their “records” are enough to bamboozle someone who knows better, and a judge that has an idea that rules will need to be put in writing, (no more shenanigans with the court), do what you say you’re going to do, or else.
I cannot believe that whatever documents will be shared will be whole. If they are, they’ll have to explain each and every In-n-Out burger they bought and whether the fries were well done or not.
I skipped doing this update yesterday because I was exhausted and wanted to read them again. I’m glad I did. I think this was a chess move in a game of CandyLand.
Any bets on who paid for the tractor?
UPDATE 10/28-
While we have a brief pause in court filings, I’d like to spend an update on something that was discovered early on while doing research that initially I didn’t understand, nor did I think significant. More and more, I think it just might be, so I’m going to share a brief bit on it today.
There were a pair of documents that were uncovered that showed separate loans from Deere & Company. Since it didn’t have an amount on them, I put it in my overflowing UN folder and promptly forgot about them. With more and more things pointing towards the Deaderick street address, I was reminded of these so I pulled them for another look.
Two separate loans, with Keith Weaver’s name on them. Now these could have been leases, or loans, but they are in fact separate tickets.
I looked up Deere & Company, and it’s John Deere. Tractors/mowers etc.. Equipment stuff.
Used for Eady Road property. Which of course has its own LLC.
Paid for by Uncle Nearest? Which of course has its own LLC.
By now, you know where this is going right?
That’s it. Brief.
2023.
2024.
We aren’t quite at the “say hello to my lil fren” part of the story…..
UPDATE 10/27- 2.0
Well I was just doing my little update earlier today, but there’s new filings. This is what happens when grown ups are doing grown up things. Let’s break down the filing from the Receiver Cat.
“As an appointed officer of this Court, the Receiver determined that it was his responsibility to alert the Court to these entities, allow the Court to interpret its own Receivership Order, and determine what is or is not a Receivership Asset. In furtherance of that responsibility, the Receiver filed his Motion to Clarify with this Court. The Receiver has been transparent with all parties, including the Respondents and their counsel, as to his rationale for the Motion to Clarify. Indeed, the Motion to Clarify specifically states:
The Receiver makes no representation about whether these entities should be included within the scope of this receivership. Rather, the Receiver files this Motion for Clarification to seek the Court’s determination as to whether it intended the entities listed above to fall within the scope of the Receivership Assets under the Order. The Receiver endeavors to fully and completely carry out the wishes and instructions of this Court.”
Grown ups doing grown up work. He did his job. Alerted the court to shenanigans and as an officer of the court, asked what the judge wants to do. Also, come on, use the Tentities (TM). It just rolls off the tongue. Also, also, trouble ahead, you’ve been warned….
“Even with this explanation in the Motion to Clarify and the Receiver’s own transparency in conversations with counsel for the Respondents regarding his motivations, the Respondents continue to allege in their Responses that:
“[A]pparently at the behest of Farm Credit, the Receiver filed his Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order;”5
“The Receiver, however, provided no specific evidence to support expanding the receivership to include the Non-Defendant (the Respondents) and expressly took no position as to whether any of the Non-Defendants should be placed under control of the Receiver;”6 and
“[T]he Receiver’s reticence to take a position as to whether the Non-Defendants are properly included in this Receivership is the first sign that there really is no factual or legal basis to include these Non-Defendants in the Receivership.”
This is the grown up saying that people play too much.
Sound the bell, school is in session.
SMACKDOWN ALERT-
“Finally, the Respondents essentially allege that the Receiver is simply in place to do the bidding and take instruction from Farm Credit, stating, “it is clear that this is really Farm Credit’s motion to expandthe receivership…”
Those three dots are in the filing… Remember, this is the receiver response.
“While the Receiver is unsure how he can be any clearer than he was in the Motion to Clarify, he restates his position regarding the Motion to Clarify herein to alleviate any confusion on the part of the Respondents. The Receiver took no position on the entities outlined in the Motion to Clarify, and will again take no position on that issue here. The Receiver is charged with managing the assets of the entities outlined by this Court. The Court is the appropriate determiner of what is/is not a part of this Receivership. It would be inappropriate for the Receiver to argue for the extension of his duties unless the Receiver felt like he was unable to carry out his duties absent an expansion of his duties; that is not the case here. The Receiver will leave all argument and advocacy about the scope of this receivership to Farm Credit and the Respondents. Hopefully, this restatement of his position will further illustrate to the parties the Receiver is here to follow the direction provided to him by this Court, and not to do the bidding of any other party.”
They couldn’t have been less intelligent going after the receiver here. But then again this is the same person who took a shot at a judge in a recent rake stepping, I mean, interview.
And just for good measure, the receiver added another lawyer-
“Hereby submits this Notice of Additional Professional Retained by Receiver pursuant to Paragraph 10(c) of the Order Appointing Receiver. The Receiver hereby states that he has retained Arlington Capital Advisors, LLC to advise the Receiver on possible transactions related to this matter, including refinancing of indebtedness, consummating equity infusions or investments, and/or consummating a sale of some or all of the Receivership Assets.”
This law firm will likely assist with SELLING STUFF. THE RECEIVER SAID, SELLING STUFF.
Honestly the rake store should raise prices since CEO Cat can afford caviar.
UPDATE 10/27-
Another filing, and it’s pretty much Weavers sour grapes about the legal strategies by Farm Credit. This is what happens when you can only afford Dog Treat Lawyers (TM). Anyway, quick breakdown today, and then I think I’ll treat myself to some caviar quesadillas.
“On September 25, 2025, Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA (“Farm Credit”) the Statement. In the Statement, Farm Credit argued that all of the Non-Defendants were assets of the receivership. As sole support for its assertion, Farm Credit identified several discrete transactions between the Non-Defendants and the Defendants with no actual evidence that any of the identified transactions was in any way fraudulent or improper.”
Discreet means filed under proposed seal. We don’t know if the bank alleged they were fraudulent or improper at all, because well, sealed.
“On September 30, 2025, the Court entered an Order (the “September 30 Order”)5 requiring the Receiver to provide notice of his Motion, the September 30 Order, and th Receivership Order on all of the Non-Defendants by no later than October 14, 2025. The Order further required that the Non-Defendants respond to the Motion to Clarify by October 21, 2024. Finally, the September 30 Order provided that “Plaintiff SHALL file all materials in its possession that it believes support expanding the receivership with the Court. Plaintiff SHALL comply with the Court’s Memorandum and Order Regarding Sealing Confidential Information [Doc. 9] when filing any materials it believes to be confidential.”6 While the Court did not provide a time frame for compliance by Farm Credit, the appropriate implication was that the materials were to be filed immediately so that the Non-Defendants would have the ability to respond to those documents in the Responses.”
Sure sounds like “We didn’t get to see their cards before playing our hand.” Farm Credit has big dog lawyers, not dog treat lawyers. This is what happens when you play for keeps.
“On October 20, 2025, the day before the deadline imposed upon the Non-Defendants to respond to the Motion to Clarify, the Receiver circulated to counsel for the Non- Defendants and to Farm Credit the RECEIVER’S MOTION TO CLARITY [SIC] ADDING CERTAIN ENTITIES TO RECEIVERSHIP – INPUT MEMO (the “Memo”), which was apparently prepared after the filing of the Motion to Clarify, Farm Credit’s Statement, and the entry of the September 30 Order. The Memo identifies a small number of intercompany transactions, i.e., between the Non-Defendants and the Defendants, found by the Receiver without any conclusion that the transactions were improper. In most cases, the Memo simply indicates that information from the Non-Defendants is needed regarding the transactions, without indicating that any request to the Non-Defendants or the Weavers for such information has ever been made. Had the Receiver asked for information or documentation from the Non-Defendants, it would have been provided. The Receiver expressly advised counsel for the Non-Defendants that he had created the Memo in case the parties or the court asked what his position was, that it was not meant to be comprehensive, and that he did not intend to file it.”
Notice how it’s NEVER their fault, but always someone else’s? At some point CEO cat has to understand that this isn’t make believe. The receivership isn’t some little inconvenience that one overcomes by doing interviews and comparing yourself to Job. The CEO of a company in receivership should be locked in and on top of things, but as we know, she’s never been on top of things, and is frequently late to the game (and payments).
I asked AI to put Jeffrey Wright in that chair, but it wouldn’t budge. Oh well.
“As of October 21, 2025, three weeks after the entry of the September 30 Order, Farm Credit had not filed any materials responsive to the requirements of the Order.”
No lies detected. I might’ve just shit myself.
“On October 21, 2025, which was the deadline for their responses per the September 30 Order, each of the ten Non-Defendants timely filed comprehensive responses addressing the matters alleged by Farm Credit in its Statement, as well as allegations in the Receiver’s Motion to Clarify. The Non-Defendants did not address specifically the allegations in the Memo because (1) they were provided the Memo only the day before their Responses were due and (2) the Receiver represented that the Memo was not intended to be filed.”
It’s astonishing to only the clueless, that Receiver cat is not on their side. Fawn was also very busy doing interviews than preparing, oh and grilling.
“On October 22, 2025, the day after the Non-Defendants had each filed their respective Responses, Farm Credit filed its Response to Court’s Order and Motion for Leave to File Documents Under Seal7 (the “Farm Credit Response”) and the four proposed sealed documents referenced therein, including the Memo.”
The bank lawyers were presumably waiting for the nonsensical filings to spring their nefarious ambush!
“While the Non-Defendants believe that the documents filed by Farm Credit, including the Memo, do not provide any probative evidence that any of these Non-Defendants were “mere instrumentalities” or “alter egos” of the Defendants, the apparent strategy of Farm Credit to wait on its compliance with the September 30 Order until after the Non-Defendants filed their Responses as an apparent litigation tactic, at a minimum, violated the spirit of the Court’s September 30 Order.”
It was not an apparent litigation tactic, it was an intentional litigation tactic. Imagine crying foul over violating the spirit of the order, when you couldn’t pay your loans on time which is why you ended up in this mess to begin with?
Have you noticed how many people carry water for the Weaver’s online? I wonder if they ever get tired.
THOUGHTS-
The filing then gets long winded in asking for the court to deny the inclusion of the Tentities (TM). Then they drop an obligatory WHEREFORE.
I’m not a lawyer, far from it, but I can say that it seems like the lawyers representing Farm Credit are very very good at what they do. They appear to be outmaneuvering the Weaver’s at every turn. Their filing of sealed documents after the Tentities (TM) / ChatGPT (allegedly) filing was a calculated middle finger. A direct shot across the bow of a sinking ship.
I can’t imagine inclusion not happening…..
Also, I’m sure that CEO Cat loves the “Non-Defendants” thing, but come on the Tentities (TM) is a way better hashtag. Just because you self-declare something doesn’t make it true. cough $1.1 billion cough. Self declaring that your alter-ego businesses aren’t defendants doesn’t mean anything to a court. It’s playing cute for the public, but it has no meaning. If you did what the bank alleges, then it’s likely to get inclusion, and you’re on the hook.
Should be an interesting week, now in an effort to make myself relatable, I’ll go make a caviar quesadilla.
It’s got to be tough for lawyer cats, when they have a client cat that just can’t stop talking ever.
UPDATE 10/25-
Today I’ve got a breakdown of a recent interview that our favorite CEO cat gave. No, I’m not bored, or running out of material, but some of the things are relevant to the case, and are very interesting indeed. I’ll lay it out as if it was a court document, because let’s be honest, the bank reads everything and they’ll possibly include the excerpts in some filing. Also, I’m finally ready to move some suspected LLC’s into the actual LLC’s group, and I’ll be listing those below as we go along. I promise it’s quick today, and I’ll have some thoughts too.
. “Martha’s Vineyard was a smear campaign tactic,” Weaver said during a fireside chat at the Inc. 5000 Conference titled, “Reclaiming Your Company in Turbulent Times.” “Their hope was that the judge would see it, would accept the smear, and would turn over keys of my company to them.”
Oh, this looks like a lovely rake to step on, feet don’t fail me now.
“Weaver claims the inclusion of the Martha’s Vineyard property in Farm Credit’s complaint comes down to reputational damage and an effort to “taint the judge, who’s going to be White in eastern Tennessee.”
Rake meet face. Face, meet rake.
““If you can get the judge to believe that we misappropriated funds to buy a property, a vacation home—let’s be clear, I’m from California, what I’m not going to do is buy a vacation home that’s not on the water in a town that is not sunny nine months out of the year,” she said.”
But, I thought this was a business investment? That’s what she said. Smartest business investment of all time throughout history probably.
“They didn’t have security over any of our collateral. And the question becomes, why not? Why did you not ask to perfect seven of our eight pieces of real estate? Martha’s Vineyard is just one of them,” Weaver said.”
She really really really wants to save this house.
I was pretty sure this was a Weaver entity.
Now I know it is.
RANDOM THOUGHTS-
I asked about how Quill and Cask or Grant Sidney could buy barrels without a TTB Wholesale license, and I’ve got some really good people sending me clarifications. They could have bought “interests” in those barrels, but not taken ownership. When the time might come to bottle, the Distillery could buy those interests out. Hence, a funny looking loan.
WhiskeyDecisions post about the math not mathing has generated a lot of discussion. Some people with brand ownership / knowledge have said that the numbers presented to investors were nonsense, and that those margins are impossible. We will eventually see what the real story is when Uncle Nearest gets closer to its ultimate sale.
The horses are gonna get sold. They eat and eat and eat and eat. Did you know that horses spend almost 16 hours a day eating? Unless those horses can take you on a tour around the world’s longest bar, what’s the point of having them? (credit for that line goes to another).
Did you know that owning 50 horses would cost you anywhere from $175,000-500,000 a year? The more you know.
Fun fact, Cheyenne appears on a lot of fillings for the Weavers. LegalZoom Dot Com baby!
Remember a few days ago when I alleged that Bedford Box Factory LLC was allegedly a Weaver entity?
I’m no longer alleging that. I’m SAYING it now. Bedford Box Factory is in fact, owned by Keith Weaver.
I think at some point the Tentities (TM) will have to get an update.
I keep trying to tell people that every idea the Weaver’s have gets an LLC or a TM. So there are definitely MORE than what we know already.
That address is a P.O. Box. There are BOATLOADS of LLC’s that use that address. Not all of them Weaver owned.
Uh-oh. TDG just brought in a heavy hitter. No, not Glen Lerner (for you Vegas readers, you know.).
UPDATE 10/24-
I told you all that this would be a busy week. There were a few filings last night to the court, don’t worry today will be a shorty.
“Plaintiff Farm Credit Mid-America, P.C.A. (“Farm Credit), and Defendants Uncle Nearest, Inc., Nearest Green Distillery, Inc., Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings, LLC, Fawn Weaver, and Keith Weaver (collectively, the “Defendants”) (and together with Farm Credit, the “Parties”), by and through counsel, have jointly stipulated that Defendants waive service of summons and that the Parties agree to set a deadline for Defendants’ answer at a later date. IT IS THEREFORE STIPULATED AND AGREED that:
1. The Defendants and their counsel have received a copy of the Complaint. Counsel has appeared on the Defendants’ behalf and the Defendants have agreed to save the expense of serving a summons and complaint in this case.
2. The Defendants understand that they will keep all defenses or objections to the lawsuit, the Court’s jurisdiction, and the venue of the action, but that it waives any objections to the absence of a summons or of service. The deadline for the Defendants to answer the Complaint will be a date determined by the Parties by mutual agreement in writing and without further order of this Court.”
This is probably a very long way of saying, stop playing games, your lawyers have all the stuff, stop acting like you don’t know things. Essentially this saves money and time for everyone. You don’t need a summons, when your lawyers are being fed court requests etc.. If you have questions you can take 4 minutes away from posing awkwardly in the gift shop and walk over to the actual CEO’s office and ask for clarification.
Next up, is verrrrrrry interesting. TDG has filed a motion for a Pro Hac Vice Admission. What does that mean? It means they are asking for a lawyer from California who is not licensed to operate in Tennessee to be able to represent them in this one case. Why is this interesting? Well, I’m glad you asked. This guy specializes in certain things. Alcohol, receiverships, distressed businesses, protecting assets etc… but there’s one particular thing that strikes me about him, and his firm, and I’ll let the pictures below tell that story.
Everyone say hello Oren.
If you don’t understand how a Ponzi works, here’s Fawn perhaps inadvertently explaining how they work.
Are banks allowed to laugh? Is that even legal?
UPDATE 10/23-
I know you’re tired, I’m tired, everyone is tired. I know there’s Uncle Nearest Fatigue (TM), but this is going to go for awhile. Yesterday, the bank clearly had a look at the comically inept filing from the Weaver’s Tentities (TM), and clapped back with their own filing. ALL sealed. Let’s do a very quick breakdown, hell your oatmeal won’t even be cold by the time you finish this one.
“Plaintiff, Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA (“FCMA”), in response to the Court’s Order entered on September 30, 2025 , requests leave to file under seal the following documents:”
As we will see, this is probably because they have receipts, and because the Tentities (TM) aren’t under receivership, it would be legally risky to submit them for public perusal.
“A- A summary of cash transactions created by FCMA’s financial advisor from historical account/financial information provided by Uncle Nearest, Inc.’s previous financial advisor;”
Go on…. please, do go on. They have receipts.
“B- The Levy Settlement Agreement;”
This was not public information, and I’d love to get a look at it. Pretty much, more receipts.
“C- Barrel Purchase Agreement with Q and Cask, Inc.. To date, despite request, FCMA has not received an executed copy of this agreement.”
As usual, the Weaver’s not providing information leads to questions as to why they withhold so much from banks, investors, etc…
“D- A summary of findings created by the Receiver’s financial advisor from account/financial information from Uncle Nearest.”
These receipts are probably longer than those insane CVS receipts that go on forever.
“The proposed seal documents contain confidential and sensitive information of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities, which are not yet part of the Receivership or subject to this Court’s jurisdiction, and other third parties that have contracted with or engaged in business with Uncle Nearest or the Additional Entities. These documents include agreements subject to confidentiality clauses. The documents also include private financial information of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities not yet subject to the Court’s jurisdiction. Courts in the Sixth Circuit have held that documents may be sealed where sensitive financial information is present.”
Well, these documents are probably going to remain sealed until inclusion. Maybe we see them, maybe we don’t. Regardless, the bank has receipts, now the Judge does as well.
Proposed sealed documents, aka receipts.
Whiskeydecision over on IG has a really good breakdown on the math based on the last available financial report provided to investors. The image is below, but the meat is in the details of the caption on the post. I recommend checking it out.
Lastly, a QUESTION- How does Quill and Cask, and Grant Sidney purchase, or attempt to purchase barrels of whiskey when they do not have a wholesaler license from the TTB? These clowns I swear.
Math Doesn’t Pour (TM).
This is how blogger cat looks seeing all the documents filed. Please say a prayer for Kandi….
UPDATE 10/22-
Sweet baby Jesus filing day saw 12 separate filings, all with multiple pages. I could easily spend two weeks breaking these down. Bear with me. This update will update frequently throughout the day, so if you’re just arriving and all you see are these words, refresh your coffee and come back in an hour. Also, thoughts and prayers to Kandi over on TikTok, she’s gonna need tea, honey, and Ricola’s to save her vocal cords.
Let’s start with some stuff-
First document is the announcement that the defense (the Weavers) have lawyer Michael E. Collins representing the Tentities (TM) and wish for all current, past, and future documents be forwarded to the law firm of Manier & Herod.
Kinda like what TDG and Oracle have already done, but not exactly as TDG and Oracle likely pay their bills. Also, not gonna lie, I’m gonna miss Rocky. Hopefully he got paid.
Second document is from Humble Baron. (oh god it’s long). It’s their response to the Receivers motion to clarify blah blah blah. Boy oh boy the lawyer has come out firing! He’s referring to the Tentities (TM) as Non-Defendants. This one is gonna need a full breakdown so let’s dance.
Blogger Cat (TM) is mainlining the cold brew today. Also, fun fact, I don’t smoke, never have.
Here’s the breakdown from Humble Baron’s filing. Remember, my thoughts and opinions are italicized.
“As an initial matter, the Court should be aware that actions and statements made inthis Case, whether in pleadings or in open court, have business consequences for those entities that are involved or become involved. When unsubstantiated accusations are made against parties or Non-Defendants and those accusations are placed in the public record, the accusations are picked up by the press and cause immediate financial and reputational harm to the targets of the accusations. In this case, the completely unsupported allegations that these ten Non-Defendants have comingled their finances with the Defendants’ finances and should be placed under receivership has caused vendors to stop doing business with the Non-Defendants and customers to stop placing orders with the Non-Defendants to the financial detriment of the Non-Defendants. This is apparently the intent of Farm Credit even though Farm Credit has not provided one shred of evidence to support its allegations. The Non-Defendants have suffered significant financial losses as a result of this effort by Farm Credit that has no legitimate legal or factual basis, is not necessary to protect Farm Credit’s interests, and appears solely intended to harm the Non- Defendants and the interests of Fawn and Keith Weaver.”
I think not paying the vendors for years, and everyone knowing this, has probably caused them to not wish to work with them more than this court case has. Also, we haven’t seen Farm Credit’s documents yet (foreshadowing alert #1)
“The Non-Defendants are specially appearing before this Court to contest the Motion to Clarify filed by the Receiver. However, based on the tenor of the Motion to Clarify, and the Receiver’s statement that he “makes no representation about whether these entities should be included within the scope of this receivership,” it is clear that this is really Farm Credit’s motion to expand the receivership to include (1) entities that are not directly or indirectly obligated on any of the Farm Credit Loans and (2) assets that are not collateral to Farm Credit. To support its effort, Farm Credit offers either completely unsupported factual allegations, patently false factual allegations, or factual allegations that are easily refutable or do not support the requested relief. And this effort has been undertaken even where the Receiver has already made a preliminary conclusion and advised Farm Credit that the value of the equity interest in this receivership estate, even considering all of the loans from Farm Credit and all other debts of the Uncle Nearest entities, is significant even in his most conservative valuation. Farm Credit has prosecuted this factually and legally unsupportable effort to enlarge the receivership even though there isn’t any colorable risk that the assets already in the Receivership will be insufficient to satisfy the Farm Credit claims and without any regard to the financial and operational damages that such action has directly caused and continues to cause to these Non-Defendants.”
Clearly the lawyer wants everyone to forget about that Martha’s Vineyard House. Like FORGET forget. This asset alone, and how it was used, is absolutely why Farm Credit asked for the inclusion, because the Weaver’s moved the asset, which was the collateral for the loan! It’s also cute that the Weaver’s believe the Receiver is on their side somehow.
This, this has always been the key. Which is likely why Fawn defended it so hard in the early times.
“The Receiver’s reticence to take a position as to whether the Non-Defendants are properly included in this Receivership is the first sign that there really is no factual or legal basis to include these Non-Defendants in the Receivership. If there were a sound legal or factual basis for these entities to be included in the Receivership, the Receiver, whose job is to recover assets of the receivership, would not defer. The second sign that there is no basis to include these Non- Defendants in the Receivership is that, despite being specifically ordered by this Court to produce all evidence supporting its assertions, Farm Credit has literally filed nothing. Not a single document has been filed to support the assertions made by Farm Credit in its Statement and many of those allegations are directly contradicted by the Receiver. Accordingly, Farm Credit has either defied the Court’s Order by not submitting evidence it has, or Farm Credit filed its Statement without a shred of evidence to support it.”
Lots of legal fighting words for sure. And probably correct that nothing has yet been filed. Lawyers do lawyer things and they say lawyer things that sound great up front, but the details will be most important to the judge. The continued filing has a lot of jargon and propaganda about how UN is doing well etc.., so I’ll be hitting the highlights going forward because we still haven’t figured out what this massive document has to do with Humble Baron yet…
“On September 30, 2025, the Court entered its Order (the “September 30 Order”)14 which initially noted that none of the Defendants had objected to the Motion to Clarify. Likely unbeknownst to the Court, the Receiver has asserted that he controls the corporate Defendants and their counsel such that he would have had to be the one to direct the corporate Defendants to object to his own motion. That was not likely to happen. The September 30 Order further required the Receiver to serve notice of the Motion to Clarify and the September 30 Order on the identified Non-Defendants and that the Non- Defendants would have until October 21, 2025, to contest the Motion and the inclusion of the Non- Defendants in the receivership.”
Well, shots fired. Looks like this puts to rest all of those silly rumors floating around that the receiver was bought and paid for. This seems to be taking an adversarial approach to the receiver. Also, the Non-Defendants is screaming for a TradeMark.
“The September 30 Order further provided that “Plaintiff SHALL file all materials in its possession that it believes support expanding the receivership with the Court. Plaintiff SHALL comply with the Court’s Memorandum and Order Regarding Sealing Confidential Information [Doc. 9] when filing any materials it believes to be confidential. As of October 21, 2025, Farm Credit has failed to file any documents that support expanding the receivership—not a single document.”
When the lawyer filing using caps and bold, you know they're serious.
I warned you this would be long….
Now for the Argument portion of the filing-
“The Receiver Has Already Determined that Uncle Nearest Is Not Insolvent. It is important to note in this analysis that the Uncle Nearest Defendants are not insolvent by the Receiver’s own analysis. In fact, the Receiver has determined that the equity value of the Defendant companies, after payment of all the debts of the Defendant companies, is very significant even in a most conservative view. Consequently, since Farm Credit has a lien on all assets, tangible and intangible, of the Uncle Nearest Defendants, there is clearly adequate collateral to secure the Farm Credit debt. Not only are insolvency (or lack thereof) and adequacy of collateral with respect to the Defendants key considerations for the appointment of a receiver for the Defendants, but they are also highly relevant to this effort by Farm Credit to expand the receivership to include Non-Defendants.”
It helps when the bank has to infuse another $2.5 million to keep the business running, AFTER they filed the lawsuit. Again, it comes down to things like that Martha’s Vineyard house…. that collateral was removed and this is why the bank wants inclusion. It’s also clearly not the only piece, the MV house is representative of what’s possibly been happening. Remember, UN paid for Humble Baron (which the lawyer still hasn’t gotten to) to get that Guinness Book worlds longest bar, paid for a lawsuit settlement for HB, and paid for Trademarks/Taxes/Mortgages for other Tentities (TM).
“Thus, this receivership was instituted over a group of companies that are not and were not insolvent, yet Farm Credit is now seeking to bring into the receivership assets of the Non-Defendants, which are entities that are not obligated on the Farm Credit debt that the Receiver has already concluded can be satisfied in full from the assets currently in the receivership. This prompts the question: what is this effort by Farm Credit really about? The answer appears to be that this is about a pillage and burn strategy by a creditor that may itself have exposure under lender liability for the close relationship its loan officer had with the former CFO of Uncle Nearest who has been accused of the very alleged malfeasance and fraud that form the basis of many of the allegations asserted by Farm Credit in its Complaint and that led to the alleged loan defaults that have put the Uncle Nearest companies in this current predicament. The Receiver has already acknowledged that the issues related to the alleged fraudulent conduct of the former CFO are significant.16 Since this is an equitable proceeding and the Court has been bombarded with unfounded accusations against Uncle Nearest and the Weavers, it is important the Court be aware that potential claims exist against Farm Credit for its actions and the actions of its officers leading up to this lawsuit.”
I cannot believe another lawyer will try to infer things about Senzaki personal relationships. Fawn really wants that included so badly. I didn’t report on that, I in fact refused to because what someone does in their private life has ZERO to do with their professional duties. Kinda like how I didn’t report on who was kissing who on the dance floor at company events. It’s absolutely irrelevant. While Senzaki will have to face the music because his signature is on documents, he’s unlikely to be the super duper criminal mastermind behind everything. Also, Farm Credit WAS dumb for trusting the Weaver’s so much, I have to agree with Mike here.
The next several sections list case law, and history of Tennessee actions in these matters. It’s boring legalese and is standard legal defense, however one part appears to be the defendants key argument. I bolded it for ease of use.
“Farm Credit’s effort also fails because it can’t meet the bare requirements that would be relevant to a determination that any of the Non-Defendants should have a receiver appointed. This Motion to Clarify and the Statement by Farm Credit go far beyond what is simply an effort to protect assets that are property of the receivership from dissipation—this is an effort to wrest control over separate Non-Defendant companies based on mere allegations of potential facts and on factors significantly less rigorous than the very factors that the Court required to be considered in appointing the Receiver over Uncle Nearest in the first place. While Uncle Nearest had consented to the appointment of a receiver in the Loan Documents, had defaulted in payments to Farm Credit, and had pledged all of its assets to secure the debt to Farm Credit, the Non- Defendants have done none of that. They are not parties to the Loan Documents, they have not defaulted on any obligations to Farm Credit, and they have not pledged any of their assets to secure the Farm Credit debt. Surely, the Non-Defendants have at least an equivalent right to the same analysis and burden of proof for divesting their directors of control over their businesses as Uncle Nearest’s board had in its defense of the initial receivership motion.”
Fair points, but, again, that commingling thing could unravel that argument.
This filing sure is more interesting than watching Sunday with the Weaver’s (TM). Watching that show requires two lung darts by the way.
“It is indisputable that a finding of alter ego and expansion of the receivership to control these Non-Defendants would do more harm than good because, as will be further explained infra, at least one of these Non-Defendants and the Uncle Nearest entities are prohibited from being under common control by applicable state and federal law. Causing them to be under joint control would cause one or both of the entities to have to cease operations. With respect to all of the Non-Defendants, the disruption to their operations from being placed under receivership would cause significant financial damages similar to the financial losses to the Uncle Nearest entities that have been caused by the receivership, as recognized by the Receiver in his Report.28 Since the Non-Defendants are not obligated on the Farm Credit Loans and hold no collateral securing those Loans, the question of the adequacy of Farm Credit’s security has no relevance. Finally, Farm Credit has not alleged, and has certainly not provided, any evidence that any of the Non- Defendants are insolvent. In sum, with respect to the Non-Defendants, Farm Credit has not proved a single one of the same factors that this Court weighed in determining that Uncle Nearest should be under receivership control.”
And now finally something actually about Humble Baron. One of the entities would in fact have to close, something about not being able to hold a DSP and a restaurant/bar or something like that. Remember though, if this is a separate entity, why doesn’t Humble Baron pay any RENT for the land they occupy?
“Since Farm Credit is disguising a general piercing of the corporate veil argument in the form of expansion of the receivership without identifying a single asset held by the Non- Defendants that is collateral to Farm Credit or that belongs to the receivership estate, the effort should be dismissed out of hand as inappropriate. If the Court decides it should be considered, then, at a minimum, Farm Credit should be required in this diversity action to meet the standard for piercing the corporate veil under Tennessee law with respect to each of the Non-Defendants. Indeed, as noted above, the court in Elmas, which was actually dealing with a federal question case rather than a diversity case, still referred to state law factors in resolving a request by the receiver to expand a receivership to include other legal entities.”
I didn’t think they were disguising it. I interpreted it as a very direct attempt at piercing the corporate veil, again, the HOUSE MAN. THE HOUSE. I guess, perhaps since the other bank issued a mortgage that maybe they own it? Cute.
“Humble Baron, Inc. Is Not the Alter Ego of the Any of the Uncle Nearest Entities Humble Baron, Inc. (“Humble Baron”) is a Delaware C Corporation that operates a bar called the Humble Baron Bar, which is located at Nearest Green Distillery. Humble Baron is owned 100% by a blind trust for which Keith Weaver is the beneficiary. The Humble Baron Bar is a full-service bar that serves Uncle Nearest’s products as well as branded spirits manufactured by other distilleries and operates under a written lease with Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings, LLC that runs to 2030, with additional extension options. In addition to its on- premise sale of alcohol, Humble Baron undertakes sales of retail merchandise online, exploration of locations for future growth, and various creative works under development (TV shows, film, books, etc.). Other than lessor/lessee relationship and the sharing of certain expenses due to the on-site proximity of the businesses, there is no connection of Humble Baron to the Uncle Nearest companies and neither of the companies exercises control over the other. Humble Baron has its own employees (separate payroll), bank accounts, vendors, clients, financial statements, etc. Because Humble Baron sells spirits on-premise by the glass, the ownership and control of Humble Baron is required to be completely separate, directly and indirectly, from the ownership and control of the Uncle Nearest companies in accordance with applicable three-tier/tied house laws. That separateness has been maintained at all times.”
I’m going to put this as delicately as I can. This section from the lawyer could be a very big self-own. A real life stepping on a very big rake.
Madness had one of the great hits of the 80’s. I really liked that song. Also, mainlining cold brew makes a blogger cat need to go.
“With respect to Humble Baron, in his Motion to Clarify, the Receiver notes that the ownership and control of Humble Baron is required to be separate from Uncle Nearest for liquor licensing purposes and that, although Humble Baron operates on the Nearest Green Distillery property, Humble Baron “appears to be separate financially from Uncle Nearest.” The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity. Farm Credit’s Statement flatly ignores the Receiver’s determinations of financial separateness and states that “[t]he funds and operations of Uncle Nearest and Humble Baron appear to be comingled such that Humble Baron falls within the scope of the Receivership Assets.”40 This conclusion is based on several false premises. First, Farm Credit asserts that Uncle Nearest, Inc. made a payment to Levy Premium Foodservice Limited Partnership (“Levy”) on behalf of Humble Baron. This statement is incorrect and exemplifies the fact that Farm Credit has made literally no effort to confirm the veracity of any of the allegations it has made in its Statement.”
Note the “appears” to be separate…. hard to tell when the financial records were supposedly deleted…. but not gone forever. I love that the lawyer is calling the bank a liar. Also, from what I’ve seen, it’s probable that Levy hasn’t been paid, so the lawyer is probably telling the truth which would be a pretty slick move.
“Levy is a management company that previously provided exclusive and comprehensive management and operational services, including event management, to Humble Baron and Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC under a Management Agreement. During the term of the Management Agreement, Levy provided certain services related to three shareholder events for Uncle Nearest that were held on the premises of the Nearest Green Distillery and the HumbleBaron Bar. These shareholder events were solely for the benefit of Uncle Nearest, Inc. and the costs associated with such events were the direct obligation of Uncle Nearest, Inc. Indeed, correspondence between Levy, acting as management of Humble Baron, and Uncle Nearest in April 2024 confirms that the charges were due from Uncle Nearest.”
Which since it’s a Weaver owned entity, Humble Baron got paid, but Levy did NOT? So weird.
“In 2024, Levy filed a complaint against Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC and Humble Baron, Inc. seeking to recover unpaid management fees, including fees related to the three shareholder events that were for the sole benefit of Uncle Nearest, Inc. The claims of Levy were ultimately settled and, per the Settlement Agreement, a series of payments were to be made to Levy. In order to resolve the portion of the Levy settlement attributable to Uncle Nearest Inc. for the three shareholder events, Uncle Nearest paid the amount owed directly to Levy in furtherance of the Settlement. Thus, the payment by Uncle Nearest, Inc. was for its own obligation and resulted in an equivalent decrease in Uncle Nearest’s liabilities. Thus, contrary to the assertions of Farm Credit, the payment by Uncle Nearest Inc. to Levy was entirely proper and does not support any finding of comingling.”
Still, Humble Baron got paid, but Levy did not? So weird.
“Farm Credit’s next assertion, that Uncle Nearest’s payment for the Guiness World Record designation was improper, is based on apparent willful ignorance of the symbiotic business marketing relationship between Uncle Nearest and Humble Baron, which relationship exists in practically every iteration of a distiller/retailer relationship. Uncle Nearest is not the first distiller to lease space to a separate full bar or restaurant concept within its distillery. While the companies are completely separate as required by the three-tier system and applicable tied house laws, the benefit to the distillery that the bar concept brings is significant retail traffic to the distillery and increased exposure and visibility for the distillery. Consequently, providing distillery space for an on-premise bar, even for little or no rent, provides a significant opportunity for the distillery to increase retail sales of its products and to promote its brands. Similarly, positive national recognition for the bar that includes recognition for the distillery where the bar sits is in the best interests of the distillery.”
NO RENT. And this doesn’t do much to dispel the banks assertion. It’s Uncle Nearest FUNDS, for a supposedly separate entity. This could be another rake that was unnecessarily stepped on.
First Rule of Law Club. Don’t step on rakes.
“With respect to the Guiness World Record recognition, as is clear even from the articles cited by Farm Credit in footnote 8 of its Statement, practically every article about the world record designation, and the Guinness website itself, prominently recognizes, if not emphasizes, the bar’s location at the Nearest Green Distillery. This promotion was not by chance but was a specific goal of the Uncle Nearest’s management and justified Uncle Nearest seeking and paying for the world record designation in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment. The management of Humble Baron, which was a start-up entity, would not have approved payment of the Guiness World Record expense because, due to its location in the small town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, the bar’s retail sales were not projected to be increased enough to justify the cost of the world record designation. For Nearest Green Distillery, on the other hand, with more of a world- wide market for its products, the additional notoriety from the World Record was anticipated to lead to significant additional press for the Distillery and the Uncle Nearest Brand that would make the world record designation pay off. Thus, Uncle Nearest’s decision to pay for the Guinness World Record fees does not evidence any commingling of the businesses, improper activity, any basis for an alter ego finding or otherwise support expanding the receivership.”
Awwww Mike, just when we thought you were a serious fellow doing serious work, you had to include this in the filing. Of course it wouldn’t be approved, it was a dumb expense for anyone. It’s clout chasing, and ineffective clout chasing at that. But, when the same owner has access to a gigantic piggy bank full of other peoples money, then it’s an easy spend. Which is the entire point of Farm Credit asking for inclusion. Also, isn’t it incredible that all of these separate businesses got paid and so many non-weaver owned businesses HAVEN’T?
“Farm Credit further falsely asserts that Humble Baron has no lease for its operation of the bar on the Uncle Nearest real property. Again, if Farm Credit had even a passing knowledge of the regulatory environment in the spirit industry (or simply asked anyone with knowledge), it would have known that Humble Baron having a written lease (or evidence of ownership of the property) for its operating premises is required as part of the process of obtaining a liquor license in Tennessee. So, either Farm Credit knew the statement was false or simply decided to make the allegation without any effort to determine the veracity of it as is required under Rule 11. In any event, as noted previously, Humble Baron and Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings, LLC are parties to a written lease, which is a requirement of Humble Baron even being able to operate as a full-service bar.”
I seem to recall the “little to no rent” thing…. I don’t recall the bank saying no lease, I’ll have to check this, because if my coffee brain recalls correctly, they asserted “no rent.”
“Fawn and Keith Weaver are not obligors on the Farm Credit debt and are not personally liable to Farm Credit. Indeed, the naming of the Weavers personally as Defendants in this case was completely unnecessary, was done for the apparent purpose of injuring the reputations of the Weavers and harming their business interests. The Weavers are not obligors on the Farm Credit debt, are not guarantors of the Farm Credit debt, and there is no count of the Complaint that asserts a claim against the Weavers individually, even though the Complaint asserts that they are named both as officers of Uncle Nearest and individually While the Weavers did pledge certain real property assets to secure the Notes to Farm Credit, those pledges do not create personal liability on behalf of the Weavers, nor do they subject the non-pledged assets of the Weavers generally to satisfy any of the Uncle Nearest debts to Farm Credit. It was completely unnecessary for Farm Credit to name the Weavers personally as defendants—if Farm Credit intended to seek foreclosure or the appointment of a receiver over the same against the pledged properties as an in rem action, it is only necessary for the properties themselves to be named, not the owners. However, Farm Credit didn’t simply name the Weavers as Defendants, Farm Credit intentionally conflated the obligations of the Uncle Nearest corporate Defendants with the personal obligations of the Weavers in an effort to damage the Weavers personally. Accordingly, the Weavers should ultimately be dismissed as party defendants in this case..”
And this legal assertion is a very key part to all of this, and likely why the Weaver’s continue to act like they’ll be fine when this is all said and done. Will it stick? That’s a big question. Grant Sidney owns an awful lot of UN, who is responsible.
WHEREFORE, Humble Baron respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.
You made it this far, and this was only the Humble Baron filing.
Ok, now that was a lot. Thankfully it seems that the Humble Baron got most of the big things out of the way, if there are any redundancies, I’ll skip them going forward because holy cow this will be a forever update if I don’t. Let’s get to Grant Sidney’s filing, the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest, owned by Fawn Weaver.
“Grant Sidney, Inc. incorporates by reference the Response of Humble Baron, Inc. to Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order and Statement of Farm Credit and restates and adopts the factual and legal arguments therein. In addition to those facts and legal arguments, Grant Sidney, Inc. provides the following analysis specific to its situation.”
Oh thank the cat gods, they did it for me.
“Grant Sidney, Inc. is a Delaware Corporation owned 100% by Fawn Weaver. This entity holds approximately 40% of the outstanding shares of Uncle Nearest stock, which makes it the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest, although not a controlling shareholder. Grant Sidney also has an array of interests that are unrelated to Uncle Nearest. Grant Sidney holds no assets of Uncle Nearest. As the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest, Grant Sidney exercises only that level of control that is allowed under the Charter and By-Laws of Uncle Nearest, Inc. and under Tennessee law. Grant Sidney maintains its own books and corporate records, maintains its own separate bank accounts, and is not insolvent.”
It does hold 80% voting rights according to Fawn. We are happily sharing those assets owned by Grant Sidney, but it is interesting to note that UN employees and officers have worked on Second Rose, which is owned by Grant Sidney.
“In its Statement, Farm Credit cites the fact that Grant Sidney provided substantial capital to the Uncle Nearest Defendants in 2025 and asserts that these transfers somehow create a basis for piercing the corporate veil or expanding the receivership.5 However, the 2025 transfers by Grant Sidney, all made during the forbearance negotiations with FarmCredit and the threats of receivership made by Farm Credit, provide no evidence to support a finding of alter ego status or otherwise support expanding the receivership. As an initial matter, it is important to note that the transfers in question were all transfers from Grant Sidney to the Uncle Nearest entities, not the other way around. If an equity holder of a company providing financing to that company is a basis for piercing the veil, then practically every small company in the U.S. should have its veil pierced because investing capital in a business is the nature of an equity investment and such equity investments are the life-blood of practically every small business. Several courts have recognized that an owner providing capital to a company, especially in a situation of distress, should not serve as a basis for an alter ego claim where there is no evidence that the owner repaid itself to the detriment of other creditors, even if documentation is not perfect.”
Yes, the bank did in fact cite that. This was not in dispute. Straw Man argument aside, this was not the entire basis for the banks argument. Also a reminder, no Weaver owned entity is owed, and there are many entities owed money from years of non-payment. This latest loan may be an exception. Notably the last line, “even if documentation is not perfect” sounds like foreshadowing.
What’s a lil oopsie when it comes to documentation between companies?
“Even if the 2025 investments by Grant Sidney were initially incorrectly booked, that is not uncommon for complex transactions and certainly not uncommon for a company in financial distress and seeking funds to avoid receivership. Even where a company is not in financial distress, it is often the case that transactions are booked with the understanding that, if not corrected sooner, correcting entries will be made, if necessary, at year end when the annual books are closed for tax return purposes and with the input of the outside tax accountant in preparing the returns. In that process, the external accounting firm preparing the tax returns will review the relevant transactions and advise the company of any necessary corrective entries. Since the books for 2025 for the Uncle Nearest entities have not yet been closed and the investments in question made by Grant Sidney were made in circumstances requiring quick action, it is not surprising that some minor classification mistakes were made. What is abundantly clear is that the source of the funds was clearly documented in the books of Uncle Nearest.”
Some admissions happening in this section. “Even if” means yeah, we probably botched it. Also, the acknowledgement that the company was in financial distress, FINALLY. It’s also true that it’s not surprising that mistakes were made, I mean we are talking about companies that have made them at seemingly every step of the way.
“In this case, all of the capital infusions at issue by Grant Sidney all occurred in early to mid-2025, when Farm Credit was threatening to put the companies into receivership. Grant Sidney initially intended to provide the cash by purchasing barrels, but due to the speed at which the transactions needed to be completed based on pressure by Farm Credit, the barrel purchases never actually occurred. Many of the cash infusions, such as cash provided by Grant Sidney to fund Uncle Nearest’s payroll in early 2025, were simply booked with the understanding that any correction needed to the entries would be made when matters settled down.”
Well now this is fascinating!! Purchase of barrels!! Paging Quill and Cask, paging Quill and Cask! Grant Sidney paying UN payroll? Did this include Humble Baron payroll too? This segment opens up so many more questions.
“As noted above, some of the investments in the first quarter of 2025 by Grant Sidney were initially booked as barrel sales but were to be recharacterized as loans. On April 15, 2025, again in direct response to the pressure being put on the Uncle Nearest entities by Farm Credit, Grant Sidney entered into a Subordinated Loan Agreement with the Uncle Nearest entities, under which Grant Sidney agreed to treat the capital infusions up to $30 million as loans. A copy of the Subordinated Loan Agreement was provided to Farm Credit immediately after it was executed. This loan document evidences adherence to corporate formalities even in the face of extreme pressure from Farm Credit.”
BOOKED as barrel sales! I can’t believe Senzaki wasn’t to blame for this!!! Extreme pressure from Farm Credit is pretty funny when you think about it. They seemed pretty patient for a long time, until they weren’t.
“WHEREFORE, Grant Sidney, Inc. respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
Don’t worry folks, only several more WHEREFORE’s to go.
Oh you’re still here, ok, here we go with 4 Front Street, not to be confused with 4 Park Street.
4 Front Street-
“4 Front Street LLC incorporates by reference the Response of Humble Baron, Inc. to Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order and Statement of Farm Credit and adopts the factual and legal arguments therein. In addition to those facts and legal arguments, 4 Front Street LLC provides the following analysis specific to its situation.”
Whew.
“There is no known entity with the name “4 Park Street, LLC.” However, 4 Front Street, LLC, which has a similar name, is a limited liability company in which Keith Weaver owns a minority interest. 4 Front Street LLC has no connection to the Uncle Nearest entities.”
I was going to mention this above, because I thought it strange the HB filings would reference 4 FRONT Street and not the requested 4 PARK Street LLC. However, there is in fact a known entity with that name (image below) it’s a Delaware LLC. Unsure at this time if it’s in any way related to the Weaver’s or UN, but I’m glad the attorney brought it up and gave us some idea on it. 4 Front Street is likely related to a Juke Joint of some sort, currently there is a juke joint in that area, known as Dem Grown Folks. Which oddly, Fawn mentioned a Grown Folks cocktail in a social media post somewhere. It’s all likely just a coincidence though.
“With respect to this entity, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify that “this entity is owned by Keith and/or Fawn Weaver. It maintains bank accounts at similar banks as Uncle Nearest and, upon information and belief, the Weavers are signatories to those bank accounts. Its purposes and function are unknown to the Receiver.”3 As noted above, Keith Weaver is only a minority owner of this entity, and Fawn Weaver holds no ownership interest. Keith Weaver is a signatory on the entity’s bank accounts—Fawn Weaver is not. The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
I w0nder if William T. Cheek is also an owner. He is the registered agent for the LLC, and works for a law firm called Adams & Reese, which did work for UN and was apparently unpaid for a long time.
Delaware charges a lot for filing info and since I’m not a self-declared $1.1 billion company with access to investor money, it’ll have to do that someone with the means to research it will have to carry this one for us.
“Farm Credit’s Statement goes further than the Receiver by stating that “a significant overlap appears to exist between the operations, finances, and likely the personnel of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities.”4 Farm Credit has provided no evidence to support this unfounded allegation.”
This seems to be a blanket assertion by the lawyer in most of the filings.
WHEREFORE, 4 Front Street LLC respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.
WHEREFORE count is now at 3 for those of you keeping score at home.
William T. Cheek. That P.O. Box address also shows up a lot in the LLC’s.
Everyone say hello to Will.
You’re still reading this far? HOWWWWWWW?
CLASSIC HOPS-
“Classic Hops, Inc. incorporates by reference the Response of Humble Baron, Inc. to Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order and Statement of Farm Credit and adopts the factual and legal arguments therein. In addition to those facts and legal arguments, Classic Hops, Inc. provides the following analysis specific to its situation.”
WHEW with a capital W.
“Classic Hops Brewing Co.” is a potential DBA of a corporation called Classic Hops, Inc., which is Delaware C Corp. owned 100% by Keith Weaver. Classic Hops, Inc. is an innovative beer brand and brewpub under development and has no connection to any of the Uncle Nearest entities. With respect to this entity, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify that “[u]pon information and belief, this was a concept began by Keith Weaver. It is unclear whether this entity was ever incorporated or fully operational.”3 The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
While true that it doesn’t have ties directly to UN, it does have ties to Grant Sidney which owns the TradeMark.. Ooopsie. Grant Sidney is the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest. Grant Sidney is not owned by Keith Weaver, but by Fawn Weaver. Why did Fawn Weaver sign for the Trademark via Grant Sidney and not Keith who the filing says owns the thing that isn’t really a thing? Can we get a WHEREFORE?
“WHEREFORE, Classic Hops Brewing Co. respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
WHEREFORE counter stands at 4.
I posted this before wayyyy down below, but figured you might’ve forgotten.
Weaver Interwoven Family Foundation-
“Interwoven has not been established as a separate legal entity but is simply a name under consideration for a proposed charitable venture to manage the philanthropic efforts of Keith and Fawn Weaver.”
Oh boy. I hope they didn’t plan to run their charity the way they ran their businesses.
“With respect to Interwoven, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify that “[t]he ownership and function of this entity is unknown, but it appears in certain corporate records of Uncle Nearest.”3 The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
Calling out the receiver is quite the move here. Almost calling him a liar. Almost. ALLLLLMOOOSSSST.
“Farm Credit’s Statement goes further than the Receiver by stating that “a significant overlap appears to exist between the operations, finances, and likely the personnel of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities.”4 Farm Credit has provided no evidence to support this unfounded allegation.”
One might get the idea that the Weaver’s do NOT like this bank very much.
“WHEREFORE, Weaver Interwoven Family Foundation respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
Good thing we didn’t make this a drinking game or we’d all be shipwrecked by now.
Things sure get interwoven in this case.
NASHWOOD-
“Nashwood, Inc. is a Delaware C Corp and a hospitality, entertainment, and real estate company that is owned 100% by Keith Weaver. Nashwood provided real estate project management services to the Nearest Green Distillery at one point approximately two years ago, for which an outstanding balance remains due from the Distillery, and provides occasional event related services to Nearest Green Distillery similar to the event services previously provided by Levy Premium Foodservice Limited Partnership (“Levy”). Nashwood is also involved under contract with Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC and Humble Baron, Inc. to provide management services. Otherwise, Nashwood has no financial or operational connection to the Uncle Nearest entities and neither controls nor is controlled by those entities.”
Nashwood Inc also holds the TradeMark for Nashwood Studios. I also thought that this entity did some other things related to UN things, and also Weaver things…. Also, since it’s a Weaver owned entity, it was paid.
“With respect to this entity, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify that Nashwood operates the Tolley House Bed and Breakfast in Lynchburg, Tennessee and that “it shares a common corporate address with many of Weavers other corporate entities.”3 Nashwood no longer owns the Tolley House Bed and Breakfast and, in any event, that business has no connection to Uncle Nearest. The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
Possibly right about this. This might be under Shelbyville Grand umbrella?
“Farm Credit’s Statement goes further than the Receiver by stating that “a significant overlap appears to exist between the operations, finances, and likely the personnel of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities.”4 Farm Credit has provided no evidence to support this unfounded allegation.”
Never miss an opportunity to take a swipe at the bank. Also, there’s a WHEREFORE imminent.
“WHEREFORE, Nashwood, Inc. respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
WHEREFORE COUNTER- 6.
Aww, that's life, In NASHWOOD. Where what's bad, just seemed to be good.
QUILL & CASK-
“Quill, is a Tennessee LLC owned 100% by Keith Weaver. The company’s business purpose is to purchase, hold and sell assets for profit, including real estate, bulk whiskey, and other assets. It has no connection to Uncle Nearest other than having made barrel purchases from Uncle Nearest. The Receiver’s Motion to Clarify incorrectly indicates that Quill is owned by Fawn and Keith Weaver. However, it is and always has been owned 100% by Keith Weaver. The Receiver further states that “[Quill] has contributed capital to Uncle Nearest from time to time, and has purchased barrels of spirits from Uncle Nearest.”3 The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
Listen, I get all this mixed up myself, it’s hard to tell where Keith begins and Fawn ends most of the time. I’d give the receiver some credit here, he’s got a lot right so far, mixing up who owns what is a feature, not a bug. Still I love that they call him out for being incorrect, when it’s alleged that when the receiver asked Keith about Q and Cask, Keith feigned ignorance. So spare us please.
“Farm Credit’s Statement references a purchase of barreled whiskey by Quill from Uncle Nearest reflected in an executed Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “PSA”) that was provided to Farm Credit at the time of the transaction (as acknowledged by Farm Credit).4 However, Farm Credit then proceeds to assert that it was not aware that the buyer under the PSA was affiliated with the Weavers and Uncle Nearest.This is patently false.”
The bank hasn’t just lied according to the Weaver’s, but their pants are wholly on fire too!
“Second, Farm Credit’s feigned surprise that the PSA was with an entity related to the Weavers is nonsense, as the signature of the “Q and Cask, Inc.” representative on the very PSA that Farm Credit acknowledges having received is Keith Weaver. There is simply no way that Farm Credit was not aware that Keith Weaver was involved with the buyer when Keith Weaver executed the very PSA that was provided to Farm Credit. Farm Credit implies that it was somehow misled in some undated conversation it had with some unnamed alleged advisor to Uncle Nearest. Even if the allegation was credible (it is not), Farm Credit cannot escape the fact that it simply had to read the PSA to see the connection to Keith Weaver. This is just another glaring example of an effort by Farm Credit to mislead the Court by knowing false statements or misleading statements being presented to this Court in order to create a false impression that Uncle Nearest and the Weavers have purposefully obscured facts, when that is clearly not the case.”
Any bets on who wrote these filings? Anyone? Also, why do they keep calling the bank a liar? I think that a bank that was filing a lawsuit to get their money back was far removed from surprise, feigned or otherwise.
Why were Quill and Cask, and Grant Sidney both so interested in purchasing barrels of Uncle Nearest whiskey barrels?
“Farm Credit further points to a payment in the amount of $275,000 was made by Quill to Uncle Nearest as if it is some additional transaction unrelated to the PSA. Again, Farm Credit has a copy of the PSA, which provides a process for Quill to buy barrels from Uncle Nearest as Uncle Nearest. The $275,000 payment was made from Quill to Uncle Nearest in conjunction with the PSA.”
The question stands though, WHY was Keith Weaver trying to purchase barrels of whiskey from a company that his wife owns? Please let there be a wherefore.
“WHEREFORE, Quill and Cask Owner, LLC respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
This is not a WHEREFORE free zone. We are now at 7.
Blogger Cat knows he would not be served BBQ at that restaurant if he dared show up to it.
Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC-
“Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC is a Tennessee LLC that owns and operates Chuck’s Barrel House BBQ II. It is owned 100% by Keith Weaver. Chuck’s Barrel House BBQ II is a walk-up restaurant concept that also serves beer. The restaurant is located on the premises of the Nearest Green Distillery pursuant to a written lease. Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC maintains its own employees, vendors, receivables, payables, etc. Other than leasing its location from Nearest Green Distillery and the sharing of certain expenses related to the on-site proximity of the businesses, there is no business or financial connection to any of the Uncle Nearest business entities and each such business is controlled separately.”
If one single UN or NGD, or HB employee busses one single table this entire thing collapses. Also, this could be a real glitch as an argument could be made that 1099’s don’t qualify as “employees." Also, reminder that Chuck hasn’t yet renewed his TradeMark which expired quite a while ago.
“With respect to Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify only that “[t]his entity is believed to be owned by Keith Weaver. It operates from the Uncle Nearest/Nearest Green property, but appears to be separate financially from Uncle Nearest.” The Receiver has filed no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
I mean, do they pay rent?
“WHEREFORE, Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ, LLC respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
Swear to the cat gods that if I ever hear anyone say “WHEREFORE” out loud, I will experience cold sweats and probably the shakes WHEREFORE COUNT- 8
There is only so much make believe a person can read in one day. Blogger Cat is nearing his limit.
Shelbyville Grand-
“Shelbyville Grand, LLC is a Tennessee LLC, which is owned 100% by Keith Weaver. Shelbyville Grand owns and manages a host of real estate holdings, which include some warehouse space, a newspaper plant, commercial office buildings, vacant lots, etc. Nearest Green Distillery stores supplies at one of the warehouses. Storage fees are charged to Nearest Green Distillery monthly but a balance is due from Nearest Green Distillery, as no rental payments have been received since February 2025.”
The AU-FUCKING-DACITY of owning a company and claiming that you haven’t been paid by another company that your wife owns. There is no shame. NONE AT ALL. This company likely owns the Bedford Box Company LLC too. They own things. The Weaver’s open LLC’s for every idea they’ve ever farted out in their sleep.
“With respect to this entity, the Receiver asserts in his Motion to Clarify that “this entity is owned by Fawn and/or Keith Weaver and operates from the same location as several other of the Weaver’s corporate entities. It is unclear the purpose or function of this entity but it appears in certain corporate records.” The Receiver provides no evidence that addresses the factors for establishing a receivership, expanding a receivership, or proving alter ego status under the Continental Bankers factors with respect to this entity.”
Remember folks, the records prior to 2024 were said to be gone, wiped clean by a disgruntled former un-named employee. But don’t worry, they aren’t lost forever. That it shows up in records that aren’t lost, is telling. please somebody hit the WHEREFORE button!
“WHEREFORE, Shelbyville Grand, LLC respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
And on the 9th WHEREFORE, Blogger Cat had to hit the restroom.
I’m not saying this is a Weaver owned LLC. I’m alleging it.
Can you tell I was prepared for filing day?
UNCLE NEAREST SPURS-
“Uncle Nearest Spurs VI, LLC is a Delaware Corporation owned 100% by Fawn Weaver and created for a special purpose that never came to fruition. The company has no operations, has no assets, and has no liabilities. It has no financial operational connection to the Uncle Nearest Defendants.”
There was a time when the San Antonio Spurs were bringing on investors to buy a stake in the team. This company was likely created to be a part of the ownership stake in Fawn’s probable favorite team. It didn’t come to fruition likely because the NBA oversight and due diligence is legendary. No Unicorns and Rainbows would keep them from uncovering things. If only First Dominion was so responsible. Also, I wonder if they ever paid their bill to the Pacers? Hit me the WHEREFORE!
“, Uncle Nearest Spurs VI, LLC respectfully requests that the Court decline to expand the receivership to include the Non-Defendants or their assets and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate.”
How can we get some of that frequently mentioned “further relief?” WHEREFORE IS NOW AT TEN. You’d think we were done by now right? RIGHT? NOPE. We got one more. And I’ll let you know right now…. I need a recommendation for a carpal tunnel specialist.
There won’t be a sequel for this Rocky. Farewell good sir, hopefully you got paid.
Final Thoughts-
The Weaver’s and Rocky amicably agreed to part ways and allow the Weaver’s to have a new attorney, which I mentioned above somewhere in all that legal dreck that was filed by the new guy.
This was not a doozy by any means. There was a great deal of redundancy and copy/paste in the filings that I left out, other than the WHEREFORES. This wasn’t a legal tour de force by any measurement, and in some spots, it kinda made the banks case. However, the new lawyer was playing a very weak hand, and presented it as strongly as one could hope for. It’s a losing battle though, but a valiant best possible effort, and who even knows how long he had to chat g pt it, errr I mean, put it all together. Some parts really sound like Fawn wrote it, but I could be reading into that too much, but I swear, that Senzaki thing is just disgusting and frankly I’m surprised a lawyer bothered to include it without being instructed to.
It will likely be celebrated by the Weaver’s as a huge win, and she will probably excitedly tell you that the gag order is off. It was off, and it’s still off.
We won’t know if it’s a W until the judge rules.
Based on the thoroughness of the original complaint by the lawyers representing Farm Credit, I suspect that Farm Credit already has their response ready to go, as well as the documents the court requested. Likely too that the receiver is ready as well.
I believe that the Weaver’s probably know that their relationship with the receiver is not a cozy one and never was.
I expect that the gloves are off now.
I think we all need a drink.
I think that over the coming days I will be diving deeper on some of these filings.
With all that, I’m off to go and watch Kandi now, because I know she’s tired. I’m tired.
While you slept, I typed. Now you read, and I sleep.
So many things hang in the balance of CEO cat’s ability to drop doozies. This was the clean version of the picture btw.
UPDATE 10/21-
The countdown begins… It’s filing day for the Tentities (TM). I can’t wait to see if we get an actual doozy for once, or another “fat free, gluten free, sugar free, carb free, additive free, substance free” doozy. Perhaps we should shorten that doozy to a “Skinny Southerner” doozy? Perhaps another TM is in order? Anyway, going to do a couple “did you knows?” until court documents are available.
Did you know that one of the Tentities, Classic Hops Brewery (owned by Grant Sidney) had their trademark extension filed on June 27th, 2025?
Can you imagine starting a brewery these days? Classic Hops, King Narmer? Like, beer is in bad shape people.
Did you know that Grant Sidney, which is wholly owned by Fawn Weaver, and is the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest (maybe?) was once named VR Investments? That’s right.
The company VR Investments articles of incorporation were filed in 2013. 20,000 shares were issued at $1.00 per share.
In 2016 they changed names from VR Investments to Grant Sidney. Why? I have absolutely no idea.
In 2021 they updated some addresses and whatnot, and guess who was listed as the CFO and Registered Agent for Grant Sidney? That’s right, Mike Senzaki.
What does this mean? Nothing really, it’s just a little history lesson.
The more you know.
Did you know that in January of 2025, Grant Sidney filed for change of registered agents from Mike Senzaki, to Rhonda Davis?
Awwww Mike, you were there from the beginning, to know what you know…..
Did you know that before Uncle Nearest, there was another Grant Sidney owned company named Nearis Green. I’m guessing she heard this name and registered it first, and her book narration (which she does herself remember) she calls him Nearis multiple times.
This company was incorporated in July of 2016, via LegalZoom.com (I’m biting my tongue here).
The CEO was Keith Weaver.
The President and Secretary? Fawn Weaver.
Note the board of directors.
About a year or so later, they refiled, and changed their address to Deaderick Street in Nashville. That address keeps coming up too. Know what else is filed at that address? Second Rose.
In this revised filing, Keith is still CEO.
Fawn is still President, and Secretary.
Keith and Fawn are the ONLY directors on the board.
2017
In 2019, Nearis Green was merged with the Delaware company Uncle Nearest Inc.
Admittedly, Uncle Nearest is a much better name for a brand.
Fawn was still listed as President at the time. She admitted that she lied about this, and her reasoning was about the only lie I understood the “why.”
If you didn’t enjoy being part of the Happy Wives Club, perhaps you’d prefer the Skinny Southerner club….
UPDATE 10/20-
10/21 is the due date for the Tentities (TM) to submit their justification to NOT be included in the receivership. Fawn has promised another doozy (TM) and I’m sure it will have very high entertainment value and percentages. So while we wait for the filing, let’s do another Trademark piece. I promise it’ll be short.
Grant Sidney holds a trademark for a thing called “Skinny Southerner” which is quite possibly a lifestyle/diet book.
It’s not that outlandish when you consider the Weaver’s once had a fitness business.
It’s also possible that she knows just how much Betheny Frankel got paid for Skinny Girl Margs….
A lifestyle/diet book like this might help you work off all that King Narmer beer you’ll have to drink to show your fealty.
Is it possible she got the idea when body shaming people in her circle? Anything is possible.
Can the goals of the book be achieved by eating lobster and not having a company credit card to pay for it?
Will it be a book written by the world famous ghost author, Chiatt G. Peatea? Like another best seller possibly was?
I’ll bet $4.86 of my own money that there won’t be pre-orders on the company dime.
Also, Second Rose is looking more and more like it was supposed to be the “rebranding” of Square One Vodka, which is looking more and more like Uncle Nearest bought it, but never actually PAID for it.
Grant Sidney LOVES that address.
I am curious if the TM will be renewed. Like a lot of other bills, it’s now overdue.
Unicorn Cat seems to love building companies around historical figures…..
UPDATE 10/18-
As we inch closer to the filing date for the targeted entities, here’s a small look at the Narmer trademark held by Grant Sidney. I mentioned Narmer a few days ago, namely that it was TM’d as a Cognac, but there’s likely more to it than that. Let’s do a tiny and I do mean TINY history lesson.
King Narmer was an Egyptian King, who is widely known to be the unifier of Egypt around 3150 BC.
He apparently owned what might be the oldest known brewery which is likely over 5000 years old.
I’m sure there’s a Guinness Book of World Records award in there somewhere….
Before the pyramids of Giza were built, Egyptians buried their royal dead with boatloads of beer, in what was a true honor for the time.
I dunno folks, kinda sounds like the Egyptian Nathan Green, except that if you think it’s difficult to be in Whiskey right now, Beer is like, hold my beer.
Fawn apparently loves to read about something and then own it.
There’s that address again.
We can’t forget the branded swag, always need the branded swag.
I’m surprised there isn’t a plan for a Burger King Narmer restaurant. FORESHADOWING ALERT!
The trademark was renewed several times, this was the latest extension request.
I warned you about the foreshadowing….
Everything is fine. Nothing to see here, especially balloons.
UPDATE 10/17-
While the courts are currently quiet, that doesn’t mean that lots of things aren’t going on behind the scenes. While some folks are preparing to launch their IG live cooking show, others are doing actual meaningful things We have some of that for you today. I promise it won’t be long, and is mostly about odds and ends and possible foreshadowing, you know how much I love foreshadowing. Let’s start it all off with a bang shall we?
Remember the sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed awhile back? It’s on automatic stay as of October 3rd, due to the receivership/Farm Credit thing. Why is this notable? It’s notable because the attorney that once represented a former employee, is now seeking employees both current and former to join in a potential class action lawsuit that probably includes wage theft, toxic work environment, not getting breaks, retaliation, harassment, 1099 classification, etc…Please note I am not affiliated in any way with any law firm representing any current or former employee, nor should one see this as an endorsement of any such firm.
Jerry Boies, Esq.
The Boies Law Firm, PLLC
Email- jboies@boieslaw.com
535 Fifth Avenue
4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 729-0085
The Distillery has cancelled, errrr postponed I mean, the 6th Anniversary party of the distillery that doesn’t distill (date was in September 2025 btw), the balloon festival in October and the winter wonderland event in late November. These three events say “coming soon” and when you click on them, it still says coming soon.
Foreshadowing alert! I’m betting these are not coming soon at all as they probably do not generate money, and the receiver likely isn’t keen to spend that $2.5 million the bank just gave him to keep the engine running on balloons, fake snow and other assorted things that don’t make money.
Speaking of things that don’t make money, Humble Baron. How much longer can that bar remain open?
It’s supposedly a separate entity, is living rent free on Uncle Nearest property, and probably hasn’t made a dime in profit. Remember, if it’s a separate entity, it owes Uncle Nearest an awful lot of money for that silly Guinness Book of World Records for longest bar thingy. Maybe they already paid it back. Ok, back to reality, I know that if I had plans to attend holiday events at HB, I’d probably make backup plans, just in case something insane happens…
What if Second Rose was meant to be the rebrand of Square One Vodka?
I can’t find anything so far that shows a revenue generating business owned by Grant Sidney. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, just can’t find anything.
This makes me wonder about if Square One was to become Second Rose, who paid for it to be under Grant Sidney and not Uncle Nearest?
Remember when I mentioned Narmer down below? Oh wait, I said this would be short, I’ll save that for tomorrow.
4 Park Street LLC is possibly related to something for actual Park Street a separate entity not affiliated with the Weavers/UN but a distribution entity. So why the separate LLC to possibly deal with an outside company? Well, if I knew that I’d tell you. These rabbit holes are insanely complex, and often leave me with more questions than I started with.
Something I thought was interesting was that Victoria Eady Butler recently (and I do mean recently) applied for a trademark for her V. Eady Butler (it’s on the bottle labels, check it) signature. Why is this significant? It might not be, but I found it interesting based on how it wasn’t already trademarked, that it was filed on September 13, 2025, and that it wasn’t using an agent that the Weavers frequently used. Read into that what you will. Or won’t.
Filing for a trademark ain’t cheap, don’t think I didn’t consider a few of the expired ones myself….
Uncle Nearest is up eleventy thousand percent and is ranked number 1 in everything including best smash burger.
UPDATE 10/13-
The receiver has filed a Motion of Compliance to the court. Thank goodness it’s quick and to the point. I’ll post the pictures below too. Remember, my commentary is italicized.
From the motion-
“I hereby certify that on the 30th day of September 2025, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing, Motion to Clarify, Court's Order regarding the Motion to Clarify, and Order Appointing Receiver to be served upon the individuals/entities listed below in the manner indicated:
Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC
Chuck didn’t renew his TM on the original Barrel House BBQ, Chuck if you’re reading this, act quickly before Grant Sidney snaps it up.
Shelbyville Grand LLC
Grant Sidney INC.
Quill and Cask Owner LLC
Where oh where have those barrels gone? Where oh where can they be?
Nashwood INC.
This company does all sorts of things. You’ll see.
Humble Baron INC.
We already know that Uncle Nearest paid a settlement for Humble Baron, and paid Guinness Book for the longest bar award that surely hasn’t caused more whiskey to be sold.
4 Park Street LLC
This one is perplexing to me, and I’ll have to trust the receiver for wanting this included. I just don’t know enough about it to be snarky, but don’t worry, that will change soon.
The following three entities were either never formally established or do not have assigned Registered Agents. For service on these three entities, Attorney Michael Collins, counsel for Keith and Fawn Weaver, has agreed to accept service on their behalf. Those entities are:
Uncle Nearest Spurs
This was allegedly an LLC designed to invest in the San Antonio Spurs when the Spurs were considering investors.
Classic Hops Brewing Co.
Weaver Interwoven Family Foundation"
They’re still missing a few LLC’s but if Grant Sidney and the others are included in the receivership, they’ll find them. I mean, If my clown ass can find them, professional forensic teams surely can.
Notice the registered agents? Those names keep coming up.
4 Park Street could be fun. So could 4 Front Street?
Mike looks like a good dude. I feel for him. Hopefully he’s paid in advance.
None of this would have happened if Unicorn CEO Cat had simply read the writing on the wall.
UPDATE 10/11-
Researching things in this case has often led me down rabbit holes that seemingly have no end. Sometimes they just stop cold, and I move on. Every now and then I stumble upon something, and it goes, and goes, and goes…. So for today’s update we are going to do several pictures about a little company that is named “Second Rose.”
Second Rose is an INC, formed in Delaware.
It’s currently delinquent / revoked as of 2023.
Not that notable so far right? Like why and how does this apply to Uncle Nearest?
Firstly, Incorporating Services LTD is a registered agent for lots of companies. They do a lot of UN stuff too.
Coincidence you say! Get to the point you say!
Incorporating Services LTD is likely owed money…. just saying.
You’re thinking ok, still a rather large and loud “SO WHAT?!!”
The original owner of the Second Rose Trademark was wait for it, Grant Sidney.
The more recent application for the same Trademark is wait for it, ALSO Grant Sidney.
You’re starting to get it right?
Grant Sidney is owned by Fawn Evette Weaver.
Yes I used her government name. I’ve had wine.
Fawn owns Grant Sidney.
Well, well, well, would you lookie here?
Ok, so Fawn owns Grant Sidney, and Grant Sidney applied for a TM for Second Rose. Why is that notable Cat Guy (TM)?
Oh I dunno, maybe because in many mythologies Second Rose means “Transformation” and it’s also a spirits company not named Uncle Nearest that’s owned by Fawn Weaver’s company!
Just in case you thought I was making this all up.
Isn’t it odd that it’s a California thing now? Should we start the under/over on the Weaver’s moving from Tennessee if Uncle Nearest gets sold?
Also, that address seems familiar somehow. I wonder what’s also there?
Irell and Manella LLP are probably owned money too right? Everyone is probably owed money. Hell, the quarters owe the dimes at this point.
Odd thing to compete with yourself no? Also, so unfair to beers.
Yeah, but didn’t you say it was an old Trademark. No I didn’t. It was an old TM that had expired, but the new one had a request for an extension guess when?
June 27th, 2025.
What happened not too long after that date?
Yeah, you know.
The signature looks like all those signed bottles doesn’t it? Oh those signed bottles, gonna be evidence?
I’m not sure this was even the first attempt at a spirits company.
There was also a Trademark registered to Grant Sidney called Harry T. Burn.
Harry’s story is a fascinating one. He was very important in women gaining the right to vote in the United States.
Yes, we’re still going, I told you upfront about the damn wabbit holes.
Just in case I got the wrong Second Rose, here’s another.
Febb and Catts. Who the hell is this? Remember above when I mention Harry? Febb is Mom. Go look up the story, I’m doing live updates not history lessons. Who is Catts? You know I’m tempted, but no, Catts is also important in the women’s Suffrage movement. What’s this got to do with anything?
Beer gets absolutely NO love. So unfair.
It’s the second attempt at Febb and Catts by the way.
The first attempt was disbanded.
The Second attempt was made in January 2024.
Yes, another spirits company not named Uncle Nearest.
Don’t worry, be happy.
They sure make it easy when they keep applying for every damn trademark on earth.
Just wait, I have a really funny one to close this update with.
That address sure keeps showing up more frequently than Popeye looking for spinach during a bar fight.
You probably think we’re about done right?
Remember I said I had wine?
Remember I said some rabbit holes go on and on and on?
Yeah, this is one of those rabbit holes of tomorrow that have worm holes that blast you to hyperspace.
Come on cat guy, the next one has to be beer right? You always foreshadow….
Hmmm. This isn’t Uncle Nearest…. Didn’t Uncle Nearest buy the Chateau? What is even this?
Yeah, you’re surprised, I’m surprised, we are all surprised.
Probably not as surprised as the investors though.
Speaking of investing, First Dominion probably has some explaining to do, but that’s not to me, or you, but probably the SEC. No that’s not a division of College Football.
Will this update ever end?
Will they ever do ANYTHING WITH BEER?
Receiver Cat asked for this to be included remember? Oh yeah, Pepperidge Farms remembers.
Finally some gosh darn BEER.
Awww man, just kit not actual beer. But, somewhere that company exists I just haven’t found it yet.
Ok, I’m tired of typing, so I got one last funyun for you to chew on.
Go easy on the funyuns, they have a lot of salt, and it can lead to hypertension.
Remember how Fawn keeps ramming The People’s CEO down our throats?
Well…… this is probably why.
At least they haven’t trademarked #CLEARANCEtheshelves yet. And finally a Trademark not under Grant Sidney.
I’m wondering, does anyone know what the board of director cats actually do at Uncle Nearest?
UPDATE 10/10-
Welcome to the Number 1 ranked “Whiskey Blog that features cigarette smoking feral cats that does live updates on the Uncle Nearest mess” on planet Neptune. Self-proclaimed obviously, and if anyone wants to buy this LLC, it’s cheap, the books are clean, we don’t own any houses in Martha’s Vineyard, don’t owe banks or 100+ creditors, and aren’t being sued for harassment.
Couple of quick hits today.
Let’s meet the board of directors shall we?
John Eugster
“Managing Director - First Dominion Capital. Managing Partner- J2 Partners, LLC. Board of Directors Uncle Nearest Inc.,
First Dominion is a boutique investment bank focused on investing in high-growth companies. John sources and funds deals, builds relationships with other investors (family offices, VC firms, PE firms, investment banks, and high-net-worth individuals). John has worked on many high profile acquisitions and financings. John has been involved in transactions as diverse as the acquisition and financing of hotel and apartment buildings and was part of a group that bid on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium.
Specialties: fundraising and originating deals. John has been involved with private financing transactions for companies in a number of leading technology, social media, digital media, life science, and cleantech companies backed by well-known Silicon Valley Venture Firms.
John worked at Bear Stearns, CIBC Oppenheimer, and Wachovia Securities. John worked on the institutional sell-side covering the middle markets and managed money on a discretionary basis. Mr. Eugster's clients managed money that ranged from one hundred million to north of two billion dollars in AUM.
Prior to his career on Wall Street, he founded a men's and boy's clothing manufacturing company, Momentum Sportswear, Inc. In addition to the Momentum Sportswear brand, John was the exclusive licensee of the Mark Spitz swimwear collection. John personally raised all of the funding for Momentum Sportswear and oversaw all areas of the company for seven years after which time he sold the company and the trademarks. Mr. Eugster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics with an accounting emphasis from the University of California, at Santa Barbara.”I’m interested in where all the numbers that were shared with investors came from. Being at First Dominion, I’m sure there was some due diligence done by the firm prior to pitching investors on series A thru E right? Did the board approve the quarterly numbers presented to the 6th Men and Women? Did the board approve getting a loan from Farm Credit? Is the board of directors a group of puppets controlled by the alleged Senzaki mastermind? I still have 8 lives left so I can spare one for curiosity.
That claim of being the number 1 ranked distillery in the world is so extra. Every outrageous claim of success reminds me of a scene in Monty Pythons Holy Grail- “If I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!” Who “awarded” that to Uncle Nearest? What criteria? When? Where’s the link to that story? Or is it just another self-declared award? Anyone can declare themselves the best at something, do you know how many “best burger in the world” awards there are? At least ten in New Orleans alone.
Everyone say hello to John, a board of directors cat.
Maybe it won’t be a Theranos situation, but a WeWork one. Either way, probably no founder.
UPDATE 10/9-
It seems like every time I do a baby update like today, something happens. So, baby update for now, with mostly thoughts and whimsy.
The more I pay attention to the details of the receiver report, the more I am leaning towards Uncle Nearest surviving as a company, sort of like the way WeWork did (didn’t end up worth what it was “valued” at).
The company will probably get stripped of most of the acquisitions that were foolhardy at best, and dumb at worst.
Debts will be rectified best they can. Creditors hopefully paid.
What’s left will get valued, and then possibly sold.
I can’t believe that in any version of the multiverse, that there will be a buyer that keeps the founder on to run the company. They will want equity, or outright ownership, and the Investors might get something. Will they get what they put into it? I don’t know, but I also don’t think this company gets valued anywhere near $200 million.
I think we are going to find that Uncle Nearest funded an awful lot of things (LLC’s) that have absolutely nothing to do with Uncle Nearest and whiskey making. My searches have turned up a few LLC’s that may or may not have received monies from UN and they aren’t part of the receivers request for inclusion. Could be defunct, or unknown, time will tell.
I’m not saying this is a Weaver LLC, I’m saying that it lines up in the timeline and possibly is.
When Oracle says “OH YEAH!” Things are not fine.
UPDATE 10/7-
Well, that didn’t take long. Oracle just filed to receive documents like TDG, and WhistlePig. I guess Larry Ellison needs a kegerator for his billionaire doomsday bunker on Lanai, so now Oracle is in line. Why Oracle? Well, they bought NetSuite, who wait for it, wait for it, is owed money by Uncle Nearest. I suppose we should keep a running list of Kool-Aid cats bursting through walls. Three so far. More to come.
Also- Fawn unpinned the “Take all their money” video which is sad, because the cringe factor was the most awarded in all of history.
Also Also- Love the new/old style video, hard to keep up with current trends when the piggy bank is empty.
Thank god these things are short and to the point. Otherwise you’d be scrolling for a bit.
Blogger cat sometimes feels compelled to answer questions from the audience, so here goes.
UPDATE 10/6-
Not really an update today, but I saw a good question in some comments on the socials, so I figured I’d answer it here. Also some quick hits as well.
The question posed was straightforward, “How do they have $108 million unpaid, yet are investing millions of private equity money for minority owned businesses?”
Well, to make it as short as possible, they technically did NOT invest that money in minority owned businesses. They said they were going to, and probably contributed some cash, but ultimately did not live up to their obligations to those brands they claimed to have invested in. The Equiano Rum story has been told already. Sorel is another that was probably severely underfunded, and Square One was probably not paid at all.
The Venture Fund never delivered $50m to brands. I’m not even sure that there was $50m to begin with. Was there an intention to use that fund to do what was promised? Possibly. Intentions aren’t action however, and it’s just another failure in a long list of them, and the cost to the brands themselves was catastrophic.
Essentially, it looks like a lot of money was spent on the bright new shiny object whenever one appeared (Martha’s Vineyard house, Cognac chateau, juke joint, another house, clothing, house for friend on their property, horses, farms, etc..) and they never really seemed to be able to consolidate the gains and make anything whole. Just look at the “distillery” and you’ll see that it doesn’t make whiskey, but they built a still, never doing the hard thing to make it actually produce because it looked the part and that was enough.
I am still trying to figure out why they took out the bank loan to begin with. Around the time of the loan, they had recently finished another funding round and should have been fairly flush with cash, perhaps not enough.
QUICK HITS-
Senzaki can’t be the mastermind and to blame for everything can he? I think not.
The claim about the missing records prior to 2024 is ludicrous. You telling me there aren’t backups somewhere? QuickBooks help desk can’t help? Come on. Vague claims about a rogue employee deleting everything before they left? I mean is there one solitary competent member of management anywhere within that company?
Lastly, I wonder who will be the next company to get in line behind TDG and WhistlePig? Monalto? Advanced Spirits? All of the unpaid Lawyers? Time will tell.
The Pig has entered the chat.
UPDATE 10/3-
Don’t worry, this update will be short and sweet, after all you’ve read, you deserve short and sweet in your life once in awhile. You may recall that not long ago Tennessee Distilling Group filed a request with the court to be updated on all goings on due to the amount of debt they were owed by UN. Well, we have another entity that’s lined up at the trough. WhistlePig has now filed a similar request.
Many of you are probably asking some form of this question- What in the “pork is the other white meat” has WhistlePig got to do with Nearest Green? Let me consult the bible errr.. Love and Whiskey real quick. Oh right, debt.
WhistlePig transparently has sourced their rye whiskey from Alberta Distillers in Canada.
They use a 100% rye mash bill.
Like many other whiskey companies, they periodically release excess or unwanted inventory to the market for sale to other brands, sometimes with brand to brand direct sales, sometimes to the brokerage market.
Some of this Rye has likely been used in Uncle Nearest Rye whiskey which shares the same 100% rye mash bill.
If the rye itself was not sold directly by WhistlePig, the debts they are owed could be due to bottling services or things of that nature.
WhistlePig is owed monies. Like roughly 100 or more (give or take) vendors/companies/contractors who haven’t been paid, as referenced by the receiver having his ears chewed off on the telephone.
Fun fact, Alberta Distillers is owned by Suntory Global Spirits (Jim Beam).
The Pig wants to eat.
Receiver cat delivered the first evidence, errr, I mean report to the court.
UPDATE 10/2-
The report is in, it’s filed. There’s a lot to go over and it’s daunting, but don't worry, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Before we get started, there’s already a lot of confusion about the opening statements appearing that everything is fine. It’s in the details where you can see what’s likely happening. Let’s break it down, and you know I’ve got thoughts. Let’s go.
“This receivership presents some unique challenges given the size and complexity of the operations of Uncle Nearest, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, the “Company”), the debt structure of the Company, and the high visibility of this matter. However, the Receiver is very encouraged about the long-term viability of the Company based upon what he has learned in the first five weeks of his service in this matter. The Receiver believes that the Company has significant value and can be reorganized, as a going concern, on a relatively quick timeline. The Receiver does not believe that a fire sale liquidation of the Company (be that as part of this Receivership or as part of a bankruptcy proceeding) is necessary or in the best interest of this Company. While some non-income producing assets may be sold as part of this receivership, the Receiver believes that the core of the Company’s business can continue with a refinanced debt structure or, alternatively, can be sold as a going concern”
On the surface, sounds like everything is good. But the details… refinanced debt… sold as a going concern… and hasn’t ruled out bankruptcy… sounds good for the company, but for who? A new owner?
“Further, the transition to this receivership has been as smooth as one could possibly hope. The founder, management, and employees of the Company have been very cooperative with the Receiver and has granted the Receiver full access to the Company and its records. Due to this cooperation, the Receiver and his team of professionals quickly integrated into the financial and operational control of the Company, and have continued working cooperatively in that regard with the Company’s founder and management team. The Receiver has also found the Company’s primary secured lender, Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA (“Farm Credit”), to be very cooperative with his efforts. The Receiver has been in frequent contact with counsel for Farm Credit, and the Receiver’s financial advisors have been providing bi-weekly, in-depth financial reporting to Farm Credit’s financial analysts. In summary, the opportunity for a positive conclusion to this matter is good due to the cooperation of all constituents, and because of the Company’s opportunity for future growth.”
Everyone is playing nice. Also we know everything is fine, Fawn keeps telling us that. Daily.
The gag order was removed when the receiver was put in place, but hey, at least we get more song and dance.
The receiver then lays out the format for continued reporting for the next several months.
Tasks Accomplished.
Challenges.
Tasks in Progress.
Financial Report.
Conclusions, Recommendations and Request.
TASKS ACCOMPLISHED-
“The Receiver filed certified copies of this Court’s Receivership Order in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, and in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The Company owns assets in both of these districts, thus necessitating these filings.”
“The Receiver has retained counsel in France who is working to translate the Court’s Receivership Order into French and file it with a court of competent jurisdiction in the Cognac region of France.”
Foreshadowing alert!
“he Receiver gained full access to the physical facilities of the Company and to all software, computer platforms, and records of the Company immediately after his appointment.”
And what did we find? Foreshadowing Alert #2.
“The Receiver immediately secured multiple bank accounts in the Company’s corporate names at three banks, and moved those funds to accounts over which only the Receiver has control. Bank accounts remain in a French bank, over which the Receiver will not have exclusive control until the French courts recognize this Court’s Receivership Order. Likewise, the Receiver does not have control over bank accounts in the names of certain entities that are detailed in the Receiver’s Motion for Clarification filed with this Court on September 12, 2025.”
Just casually add another reason to warrant inclusion of the other LLC’s. Smooth move.
“Critically, with the assistance of his financial advisors, the Receiver developed a thirteen-week budget for the operations of the Company, and presented that budget to Farm Credit for approval. The budget included line items totaling approximately $1 million in immediate cash needs in order to pay delinquent, necessary operating expenses so that the Company could continue its operations somewhat uninterrupted. It also included line items totaling approximately $1.5 million for the estimated professional fees associated with this receivership through that 13-week budget period. But for these $2.5 million in extraordinary expenses, the budget presented to Farm Credit was a balanced budget, demonstrating that the Company’s revenues could cover its operational expenses over the next thirteen weeks. The Receiver reached a forbearance agreement with Farm Credit whereby Farm Credit agreed to fund the $2.5 million deficiency in exchange for the Receiver’s agreement to certain operational and financial benchmarks.”
The bank is still providing money to UN to keep the lights on. This also might be the first budget the company has ever actually run on. Life on the road is obviously very different when you aren’t spending other people’s money and have to live with what you have.
CEO cat likes to sign things. Probably not just bottles.
“The Receiver met with Tennessee Distilling Group (“TDG”), an entity which distills, bottles and stores certain of the Company’s products. During the meeting with TDG, the Receiver physically inspected the Company’s barrels and finished cases of product. From TDG’s records, the Receiver was also able to reconcile the Company’s barrel count, which the Receiver understands was a key issue in this underlying litigation. The Receiver provided the reconciled barrel count information to Farm Credit.”
TDG records are likely very accurate and not susceptible to the alleged Senzaki sorcery, or those that directed his alleged dark artistry.
“The Receiver met with the Company’s largest distributor, once in-person and several times by video conference. From those conversations, the Receiver was able to ascertain and address certain challenges that existed in the Company’s relationships with some of its distributors. It is the Receiver’s belief that, as a result of those conversations and implementation of certain action items, the Company’s distribution network is strong.”
RNDC is definitely going through their own challenges right now, but being run by a CEO Cat isn’t one of them.
“The Receiver obtained the most recent version of the Company’s capitalization table from the Company’s prior counsel. Based upon conversations with shareholders, the Receiver determined that the capitalization table is incomplete and inaccurate. He and his team have begun the task of reconciling the existing capitalization table with known or ascertainable shareholders.”
This is one of the most smokingest of smoke since the Ron Howard film Backdraft. INACCURATE is a nice word play here.
“The Receiver, with the assistance of his financial advisors, has begun evaluating the Company’s financial statements and reports. The Receiver believes that certain of these financial statements are inaccurate or incomplete; he and his team are working with source data to update the Company’s financial reporting.”
With so much inaccurate or incomplete stuff in all these reports, who decided on what nonsense to shovel to the investors during the quarterly reports?
“The Receiver has begun an investigation into allegations made by the Company’s founder regarding certain financial improprieties committed by a former employee. Based upon the records of the Company, discussions with employees, and his review of third party investigation reports, the Receiver believes that there is validity to some of the allegations. The Receiver will continue his investigation into these matters in future months in order to determine whether this receivership estate has any valid causes of action to pursue.”
Note the use of the word “SOME” in regards to the allegations made by Fawn. We have all known Mikey Mike was going to face some troubles for his signatures on documents, but we also figured that he will end up a very powerful witness down the line….
Who doesn’t like a double feature now and then?
“Relatedly, the Receiver has also begun to investigate whether any current employee or member of the management team has misappropriated funds. To date, the Receiver has found no evidence of misappropriation, theft, or financial impropriety by the Company’s founder, its management team, or any current employee. While there have been multiple transfers among related entities, the Receiver has found no evidence of defalcation to date.”
Yeah, I had to look up defalcation (embezzlement). Also note the use of “To Date” here, that means “so far” and so far has only been five weeks….
“The Receiver met with a number of potential investors, in person, by telephone, and by video conference. Based upon these conversations, the Receiver believes there is significant interest in the market for future investment in the Company, whether by debt refinancing, purchase of stock, or purchase of substantially all assets of the Company as a going concern. The Receiver intends to continue discussions with these parties, though he does not intend to accept offers until his financial advisors have produced independently verifiable financial statements, from which the Receiver can assess the value of the Company and its assets.”
There is obviously value in the company. This is no surprise. The question is WHAT is the value, and no one knows this. You can’t sell something if the reports are inaccurate, and no self declared valuations will work anymore.
“The Receiver, through counsel, assessed the incorporation status of all entities related to the Company. For any companies whose incorporation status was inactive, the Receiver is taking all necessary steps to return the companies to good standing.”
The receiver clearly knows what he’s doing. The experience he has is why he was selected by the judge.
“The Receiver, his financial advisors, and his operational advisors spent considerable time assessing the current operations of the Company. As a result of those assessments, the Receiver made significant cuts to the operational expenditures of the Company, including reducing its workforce by twelve employees, or 13%. The Receiver continues to evaluate the workforce and expenditures of the Company, in an effort to increase its operational efficiencies and become more profitable.”
Layoffs, he’s talking about layoffs. 13% now, and they’re unlikely to backfill people that have resigned unless their role was critical to operations.
“The Receiver has been able to partially restore shipments from TDG, who had previously placed the Company on a credit hold in the wake of this matter, though discussions concerning the full release of product being held by TDG is ongoing. The Receiver anticipates new product releases over the next quarter, which should continue to improve sales of the Company’s products.”
I love the mans optimism. TDG possibly agreed to this with the understanding that they would file to get access to all documents. There is still substantial debt owed here.
Mon Dieu, ca va être mis en vente
“The Receiver evaluated certain non-income producing properties owned by the Company. More specifically, the Receiver found that the Company owned non-income producing real estate in Cognac, France; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; as well as multiple properties in Bedford County, Tennessee. The Receiver found that all of these properties were purchased for specific business purposes, and that they all had the possibility of producing revenue (directly or indirectly) in the future. However, given the current cash position of the Company, the Receiver is evaluating which of these properties should be liquidated by the Receiver in order to satisfy existing debt.”
Anyone want to buy a cognac business?
“It is the Receiver’s opinion that the Company would need to invest between $15 million - $25 million additional funds in order to introduce a cognac line to the market. The Company lacks the ability to make that investment at this time; therefore, the Receiver has determined that these assets should be liquidated. The Receiver has already received one offer for these assets and has received at least two additional inquiries. The Receiver anticipates filing a motion with this Court seeking to sell the assets once he determines the highest and best binding offer.”
Empire is crumbling. Can’t blame the Foundation or even the Second Foundation for that.
CHALLENGES-
“Cash flow has been a major challenge to this receivership, especially during the first two weeks of the Receiver’s service. Due to a variety of factors (for example, credit holds on product shipment, legal fees incurred by the Company, and the impact of this litigation on sales), revenue collections were down significantly when the Receiver assumed control of the Company. Combined with the fact that a number of critical vendors and other expenses were in significant arrears, it was difficult for the Receiver to continue normal operations during the first two weeks. Fortunately, cash flow concerns have eased considerably during the last two to three weeks. Product is being released to satisfy purchase orders, sales are increasing, expenses are decreasing, and the Receiver has worked with Farm Credit to inject necessary capital in the Company. The Receiver believes that the cash flow crisis has eased, though cash flow will continue to be closely monitored.”
It doesn’t take a masters in finance to understand that the company was in deep deep trouble at the time of the Bank filing the lawsuit. The debts are beyond just the bank loan. At this point the bank had no choice but to add additional funding to UN to keep it from being swallowed by a giant sink hole.
No more SUV service to and from accounts due to budget cuts makes a CEO cat very sad.
“Another challenge to this receivership is the sheer volume of creditors and shareholders. The Receiver has been contacted by hundreds of constituents asking about the status of the Company and how this receivership impacts their interest in the Company. “
HUNDREDS. I didn’t ever get a masters in finance, but hundreds sounds like a lot, probably more than tens, or dozens.
“As discussed in more detail below, the absence of solid financial controls and the unreliability of certain financial records has been a challenge in determining historical sales and expenses that would aid with forecasting future sales and expenses. That challenge has been compounded by the fact that a substantial amount financial records before 2024 were erased from the Company’s computer system. According to multiple employees at the Company, those records were erased by a former employee immediately after termination. The Receiver is working to recover some or all of those financial records.”
Excuse me you said WHAT NOW? So convenient….. I wonder which person this will get blamed on. Senzaki has already been blamed for faking the moon landing, will he get this unceremoniously pinned upon him as well?
“The absence of the observance of corporate formalities among related entities has been another challenge for the Receiver and his staff. Many of the companies that are subject to this receivership action have comingled assets and liabilities to the point in which they are best viewed as a single enterprise. That has made determination of lien priority, and separation of liabilities among corporations, very difficult.”
SINGLE ENTERPRISE, another point for inclusion of the other LLC’s.
“Finally, the unreliability of records relating to shareholders of the Company has been a challenge for the Receiver. While he is in possession of a capitalization table, the Receiver’s research and conversations with various constituents leads him to believe that the capitalization table is inaccurate. The Receiver believes that the capitalization table fails to recognize a number of secondary market sales, including certain sales of shares that previously belonged to Fawn Weaver.”
If it was unreliable, who was responsible? It can’t always be the damned Senzaki Sasquatch can it? Or is there a new soon to be revealed villain that caused this, because it can never be the CEO’s responsibility for anything right? RIGHT?
“The Receiver believes the Weaver shares were transferred by a former employee of the Company, perhaps without authority to do so. While the capitalization table does not contain an accurate recitation of the current shareholders of the Company, at this point the Receiver does believe that all shares of the Company are represented on the capitalization table. In other words, the Receiver believes that the capitalization table correctly lists all shares, but incorrectly lists the names of all shareholders.”
Siri, what is the definition of incompetence?
Someone has been noticeably absent from the socials for quite some time……
TASKS IN PROGRESS-
“The Receiver has identified a number of tasks that need to be undertaken and/or completed in the future. Some of these tasks are operational, some financial, and some legal. While some of these tasks will take hours to complete, others will take weeks. Nevertheless, here are the tasks that the Receiver believes lies ahead in this receivership.”
Anyone with a passing interest in this saga has understood that at some point there would be a legal angle to this story. To see the receiver say so is fascinating.
“As the Receiver has conversations with shareholders, he has begun to ask them for proof of funding and copies of the documents they were given with their purchase of shares. In the near future, the Receiver anticipates that his counsel will attempt to contact all known shareholders (whether listed on the capitalization table or not) in order to gather necessary information to confirm capitalization table information.”
Imagine having to build an actual CAP table for a company that advertised itself as a $1 billion company.
“The Receiver’s financial analysts are working on gathering source data to recreate certain financial reports. The Receiver thinks it is critical for the Company to have financial statements that have been created under his independent direction, for which he can verify the accuracy.”
Imagine having a CEO that thought the same way.
“Once the Receiver has compiled independent financial statements, he intends to reach out to potential investors and/or asset buyers who have shown interest in the Company. Until the Receiver has financials upon which he can reasonably rely, he has no way to determine the accurate market value of the Company or any of its assets. The Receiver anticipates accepting offers for refinancing debt, purchasing shares of the Company, and/or purchasing substantially all assets of the Company upon the verification of the financial reports. Once the Receiver determines what he believes, in his business judgment, is in the best interest of the Company, he intends to file a motion with this Court recommending that course of action.”
“In the interim, the Receiver is investigating the sale of the non-income producing assets such as the cognac business assets, the vodka business assets, and the real estate that is not essential to the core business of the Company. As mentioned above, the Receiver has already begun receiving offers on the cognac business. He is in the process of obtaining valuations and appraisals on all other non-income producing assets.”
“ The Receiver has also begun interviewing investment bankers to potentially assist with the sale of certain assets of the Company. He plans to begin the vetting process over the next month.”
Folks, pay attention here. When he can assess the value of the company, it’s SOLD. And that’s after he sells off the non-money producing assets to pay the bank, the creditors etc.. No one will want to buy the business if it’s loaded with all of these liabilities. Any buyer will likely be buying a clean Uncle Nearest…. Read into that any which way you want.
As Big Bad Voodoo Daddy once sang, “So long farewell, baby bye bye….”
“The Receiver and his financial staff are also continuing to work on filing all delinquent tax returns, assessing whether taxes are due, and making any necessary payments to taxing authorities.”
This was known, no revelation here. Also, this comment is foreshadowing.
“The Receiver’s French counsel is in the process of translating this Court’s Receivership Order and domesticating that order in the French courts. This is a necessary step in order for the Receiver to sell any of the Company’s French assets, including the chateau and surrounding vineyards that it owns in Cognac, France. Domestication of the Receivership Order is also necessary for the Receiver to exercise control over a bank account maintained by the Company at a French bank; this account is believed to contain a modest amount of funds.”
There will never be an Uncle Nearest Cognac. This part of the story is about to be over.
“The Receiver will continue assessing further budget cuts, and further actions that might be taken in order to increase sales and profitability of the Company. This includes working on cost-saving steps with vendors, and continuing to improve relationships with the Company’ distributors.”
I’m guessing more layoffs to come. I think when all is said and done there will have been a 30% reduction in labor.
“Finally, the Receiver will continue to communicate candidly and transparently with all constituents of the Company, including vendors, creditors, employees, and shareholders. He believes that open and honest communications throughout this process will likely lead to more positive outcomes.”
This sounds different than the self declared “radical transparency.”
“The Receiver believes that the goals and objectives of this receivership, as established by the Receivership Order and as explained in this report, can be achieved by the conclusion of the first quarter of 2026. While this schedule is somewhat aggressive, the positive outlook for this company’s future makes this an achievable goal in the Receiver’s opinion. He believes that it is in the best interest of the Company, its creditors, and its shareholders to not linger in receivership, due to the business interruption caused thereby.”
My prediction is that the bank / receivership matter is resolved by 3/1/26. But this is far from over beyond that.
BANKING-
“The Receiver has instituted a policy that all significant disbursements must receive explicit approval from the Receiver before release. This control mechanism ensures that cash outflows align with the cash flow budget and that only necessary and authorized expenses are incurred. To reinforce this control, weekly reconciliations are performed for all bank accounts. These reconciliations serve to verify accuracy, detect any discrepancies, and confirm that no unauthorized transactions have taken place.”
This is called being a boss.
“A rolling 13-week cash flow budget has been developed and is updated weekly to reflect the Company’s most current operating realities. This budget is reconciled against actual collections and disbursements every week. Any variances greater than 10% between budgeted and actual results are promptly identified, documented, and explained.”
This is what it means to have an adult in the room.
Fun fact about tax cats, they are always ready for what’s due to them.
PAYROLL AND TAXES-
“The payroll process has been stabilized under the administration of the Company’s professional employer organization, Genesis Global. At the time of the appointment, the Receiver identified that the PEO account was underfunded, jeopardizing employee pay continuity. This issue has since been corrected, ensuring that payroll obligations are consistently met.”
Siri, what is the definition of underfunded payroll? Sure, the definition of underfunded payroll means that Genesis Global was probably owed money for services that probably hadn’t been paid.
“The Receiver has completed an initial review of payroll taxes, excise taxes, business taxes, and property taxes. Several potential liabilities have been identified, and these obligations have been incorporated into the cash flow budget for planning purposes. The Receiver is currently working with appropriate tax authorities and external advisors to address all issues.”
This seems like a polite way of putting things. Jesus.
“In addition, the Receiver is conducting an ongoing review of state-level excise and sales tax compliance. Preliminary findings indicate that Tennessee and New Jersey may have material exposure due to incomplete reporting and unpaid obligations. These issues will be prioritized in subsequent reporting periods. The Receiver may be filing a motion in the future seeking approval to pay taxes as a priority expense.”
Some CEO somewhere said to “take all their money.” I forget who. They probably shouldn’t have taken all of that money though.
VENDOR AND OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY-
“All vendor notices are now being directed to the Receiver. This process has revealed several previously unidentified liabilities that were not adequately disclosed in the Company’s records. The Receiver has also secured and begun reviewing critical business documents, including supply chain agreements, bottling contracts, and marketing obligations. These reviews aim to identify operational risks and financial commitments that could have a material impact on cash flow.”
Remember, there are no records available prior to 2024. I’ll bet there’s a list somewhere of creditors owed, how much, and the length of time in arrears. So expect the receiver to continue to learn more and more as they go on.
“An initial review of inventory storage agreements and bailment warehouse contracts is underway. This is necessary to confirm lien positions, assess obligations, and evaluate any potential risks associated with warehouse-held inventory. The Receiver may be filing a motion in the future seeking approval to pay warehouseman’s liens as a priority expense.”
What if the each barrel isn’t 100% owned by UN? What if a part of each barrel is owned by UN? What if other entities owned the remaining parts of each individual barrel? That could complicate things no?
This is exhausting. And you made it this far, so you get a “fat free, sugar free, gluten free, additive free” cookie.
FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OBSERVATIONS-
“The Receiver has determined that the Company’s accounting records cannot be relied upon for accurate financial reporting. Key deficiencies identified include: Non-reconciled balances create uncertainty about the accuracy of financial statements. Unusual accounting entries are lacking proper documentation. Improper revenue recognition practices may inflate the Company’s perceived financial performance.”
There is so much reading between the lines to be done here. No financials can be trusted. So anything CEO says on socials probably cannot be trusted.
“The Receiver has also identified related-party transactions involving Grant Sydney, Inc. and Quill and Cask Owner, LLC, both insider entities. These transactions require further review of external records and supporting documentation, since these were not arms-length transactions.”
This game is for keeps and this will likely be the whole ball of wax if these transactions weren’t above board.
INVESTIGATION AND FORENSIC REVIEW-
“The Receiver will expand his review of historical financial records to uncover any irregularities or potential recovery opportunities. Special focus will be placed on officer and insider compensation and/or expenditures, unusual financial transactions conducted by a former employee, and the identification of potential avoidable transfers. “
“Tax advisors will be engaged to quantify exposures associated with any unfiled federal and state income tax returns. The Receiver will also evaluate potential claims or causes of action that could be pursued for the benefit of creditors, with a focus on maximizing recovery and ensuring equitable treatment of all stakeholders.”
CONCLUSION-
“The Receiver believes that this receivership is progressing smoothly and that the opportunity for the Company’s successful emergence from receivership is very good. While challenges lie ahead, the outlook is positive. The Receiver hopes to present the Court with motions to sell non-essential, non-income producing assets over the next quarter, with plans to conclude this receivership in the following quarter via a total refinancing of the Company’s debt or a sale of the Company as a going concern.”
WRAP UP-
If you just read the opening bits, it seems like things are going quite well overall and that things will come out ok. The devil is in the details. Uncle Nearest may indeed be sold whole, but the whole won’t include everything that it currently does. The chateau looks like it will be sold, same with Square One, same with the MV house, same with property (Call Farm?) that isn’t producing revenue or is essential to the operation of the company itself.
While the receiver says there won’t be a fire sale, that’s a semantics argument. Lots of parts will be sold, he intends to sell them if the court will allow, and what will be left he will also sell after satisfying the bank, other creditors, the tax man, and then delivering a fact based valuation for some company or people to purchase.
In the end, Uncle Nearest will likely continue on, but it will likely look entirely different in so many ways. Remember, this is just the receivership/bank aspect of this case. There’s still the allegations against Senzaki that will probably play out in a separate court case (criminal), there’s still a possibility of an investor lawsuit if there’s provable investment fraud, which could then lead to a possible SEC investigation and case, and a whole lot of other potential problems.
Liquor store cat hates having to put things back the way they were as soon as the CEO cat departs.
UPDATE 10/1-
Happy receiver report day to all who celebrate. I want to temper folks expectations a bit, with the recent order by the court seeking more information from the 10 entities, any report delivered by the receiver to the court is likely to be incomplete, perhaps delayed, and could potentially be sealed if the court determines that there is confidential information involved.
If something is delivered to the court today, just know that my update will likely be delayed until tomorrow as I’m extremely busy with real life things for almost the entirety of the day and evening.
I’m sure that Janet will have some good updates if the court documents are viewable. You can likely find her work on kentucky.com
I can’t be the only one that zooms in on these things before reposting right?
Propaganda is a funny thing. If you only got your news from the UN and Fawn’s socials, you’d think that everything was just fine and dandy. As we all should know by now, social media is NOT real life. It’s presented as real, and many consume it whole cloth. Just because someone is in a store, with mountains of bottles doesn’t mean they’re selling wildly.
My favorite thing about Fawn autographing all of these bottles on the shelves, is that she marked them and we can now get an anecdotal idea of how long they sit. So if you’re in any of the places that she signed at, you can now track the progress of the local clear the shelves.
You all crack me up sending me pictures in my DM’s of the discounted stuff.
#CLEARANCEtheshelves
Big week or two for numbers nerds? Blogger cat was built for this.
UPDATE 9/30-
Short little update today, so don’t go crazy on the cold brew. The next 3-4 weeks should be coming at us at a frenetic pace. We are expecting the Judge to decide on whether or not to add LLC’s to the receivership, and the bank and the court should be getting the first quarterly financial report from the receiver. Remember, my commentary on court documents is italicized.
The court issued an order today. It’s brief and to the point. The court has requested more information before it can determine whether expanding the receivership is appropriate. The court has ordered the receiver to serve that information on or before 10/14/25.
Guessing the bank info caught the court by surprise, and wants to confirm that the receiver also has this information..
The court also ordered the ten entities listed for inclusion to respond to the motion on or before 10/21/25. Failure to respond will be viewed as a waiver of opposition.
The judge probably took his sweet ass time going over the receiver request for inclusion, and then looked over the bank arguments, and now wants to hear the Weaver’s reasoning for exclusion. There will be truck loads of documents to go over, from ten different entities.
The court also ordered the bank to file all materials in its possession that it believes support expanding the receivership.
I said that the bank had done their homework, now the judge wants to grade it.
The court also clarified some confusion- “Defendant Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings LLC falls within the scope of the Receivership Assets under the Order Appointing Receiver. The Court will include this clarification again when it fully resolves the Receiver’s Motion for Clarification of Receivership Order but in the interim, the Receiver may show this Order to any entity that questions whether the Order Appointing Receiver applies to Defendant Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings LLC.”
Whiskey Decision on Instagram has a terrific post showcasing some different numbers, and it’s not TMZ style clickbait. Image below in case you’re not going to click the link.
The barrel discrepancy reminds me of this story, and I’m sure it can’t just end in “Senzaki’s fault.” Fraud is fraud.
Some of you probably prefer video to the typed words, so I recommend checking out Kandi over on TikTok as she’s doing video updates of the court documents as they land. I don’t do posts on socials about this case other than providing links back here, because the comments are wild. Kandi manages it well, so she’s worth a follow.
But I thought they were up 497% in Desoto, Texas?
At this point I wouldn’t rule out actual Moon Camps.
UPDATE 9/26-
While the judge has moved slowly on deciding whether or not to include other LLC’s in the recievership, Farm Credit just lit a match under his behind. The bank submitted a statement in support of the receivership order. It’s 10 pages long, but don’t worry, I’m just going with the highlights, or lowlights (still longish though sorry). So grab your beverage of choice, and gas up the Chrysler, here we go with the breakdown. Reminder, my commentary/thoughts/opinions will be italicized.
“From information provided by Uncle Nearest to FCMA and from FCMA’s own diligence, a significant overlap appears to exist between the operations, finances, and likely the personnel of Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities. Upon information and belief, some (or perhaps all as may be revealed by investigation) of these Additional Entities have received assets or proceeds of assets from Uncle Nearest or Uncle Nearest has paid such Additional Entities’ obligations to other parties directly (or vice versa).
These assets or proceeds of the assets (which also constitute FCMA’s Collateral) transferred before the Receivership Order are Receivership Assets and the receipt and/or use of these assets should place these Additional Entities squarely within the scope of the receivership. Additionally, the failure of the Weavers and Uncle Nearest to recognize corporate formalities and division of finances with respect to the Additional Entities further warrant the inclusion of the Additional Entities under the Receivership Assets. To the extent the Receiver does not currently have sufficient information to determine whether any of the Additional Entities (or other entities that were not specifically identified in the Receivership Order) should be included as Receivership Assets, an order from this Court providing the Receiver access to the books and records of all potentially related entities is necessary.”
The bank appears to be very aware of the commingling of assets and money. Commingling can also be perceived as using company funds as their own. You know, it might be like having your own personal piggy bank that contains other peoples money. Keep a keen eye on the mention of “personnel” that’s no accident. In movies that’s called foreshadowing.
“Grant Sidney, Humble Baron, and Quill and Cask are Receivership Assets.
Uncle Nearest’s website states that “Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Nearest Green Distillery are owned by Uncle Nearest, Inc.
Uncle Nearest, Inc. is owned by Grant Sidney, Inc.. Grant Sidney, Inc. is wholly owned by Fawn Weaver.”
Upon information and belief, in 2025, Grant Sidney made multiple wires totaling over $16 million to Uncle Nearest for the purposes of paying (a) payroll, (b) the $7.5 million paydown at the closing of the Forbearance Agreement, and (c) for other operating costs of Uncle Nearest. Further upon information and belief, Grant Sidney and Uncle Nearest maintained bank accounts at CalPrivate Bank. FCMA has not had access to the CalPrivate Bank account information from years prior to 2025, but Grant Sidney’s significant infusions of capital during this short time period to Uncle Nearest warrant an investigation by the Receiver into the source of these funds. These transfers are also an example of the lack of separation of finances between the Weavers, Uncle Nearest, and the other entities related to the Weavers.”
And they still couldn’t pay on time? I suspect that some corporate veils are about to be pierced. Remember, the investors have never seen an actual complete CAP table. No one is really certain who owns what and how much of it.
Did you know there’s a little known side effect to NDA’s? Yeah, they apparently cause mice to have six legs.
“Humble Baron
The funds and operations of Uncle Nearest and Humble Baron appear to be comingled such that Humble Baron falls within the scope of the Receivership Assets. One glaring example is the likely payment by Uncle Nearest, Inc. of at least one settlement agreement payment on Humble Baron’s behalf. On August 1, 2024, Levy Premium Foodservice Limited Partnership (“Levy”) filed a complaint against Humble Baron and Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC for their failure to pay to Levy contracted amounts in the action styled Levy Premium Food Service Ltd. Partnership v. Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC, et al., Case No. 24-0890-II, in the Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee, 20th Judicial District, Davidson Couty, Tennessee (the “Levy Litigation”).
On July 23, 2025, the presiding court in the Levy Litigation entered an agreed order filed by the parties to the Levy Litigation, which reflected that the parties reached a confidential settlement agreement (the “Levy Settlement Agreement”) and noted that, by September 15, 2025, they expected the terms would be satisfied. Upon information and belief, Uncle Nearest, Inc. made at least one payment directly to Levy after execution of the Levy Settlement Agreement. This settlement payment, alone, demonstrates that FCMA’s Collateral has been used to fund Humble Baron’s obligation.”
I had a feeling that Levy case would come up again, and it has. I think as this proceeds down the line, we will probably see all sorts of UN funds being used in goofy ways that are questionable ethically…. Speaking of which, here comes the goofy stuff.
“Upon information and belief, Uncle Nearest made a payment to Guinness World Records on March 22, 2023, in the amount of $82,500. Uncle Nearest made a second payment on April 29, 2024, in the amount of $42,500. On March 23, 2023, Guinness World Records named Humble Baron as the holder of the record for longest bar in the world. These payments further demonstrate that FCMA’s Collateral has been used to fund Humble Baron’s business endeavors.”
The apparent clout chasing has a real cost. $125,000 for a humble brag. I still wonder if Death and Co ever got paid for that bar design.
“Additionally, despite Humble Baron’s location on the Nearest Green Distiller property, it does not appear that Humble Baron has any lease with, or has paid rent to, Uncle Nearest for Humble Baron’s operations of the restaurant on the premises. Even if Humble Baron were truly to be considered a separate entity not part of the Receivership Assets, it would essentially be occupying a Receivership Asset for free.”
You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand this argument. It’s pretty clear that either it is separate, or it isn’t. And either way, it looks goofy. I’m sure this is somehow Senzaki’s fault, or the janitors, it’s always someone else’s fault..
“Further, despite requests to Uncle Nearest before the entry of the Receivership Order, FCMA never received a list of the Humble Baron employees and their roles. Without access to books and records, the Receiver’s ability to determine the source of funding of Humble Baron payroll or if Humble Baron is being operated by Uncle Nearest employees is impossible.”
Remember the foreshadowing thing? This is it. This was included by Farm Credit for reasons.
It’s hard to tell if that’s true when almost everyone can’t say what they want to.
“Quill and Cask Owner, LLC-
In January and February of 2025, Uncle Nearest indicated that it had a buyer for barrels of whiskey at a competitive price. A Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “PSA”) provided to FCMA by Uncle Nearest for barrel sales was between Uncle Nearest, Inc. and “Q and Cask,Inc.” as the potential purchaser. A search of Delaware, Tennessee, and California (the most likely states of organization for the entity) secretary of state websites turned up no results for “Q and Cask, Inc.” as an entity in existence.”
“However, an entity named Quill and Cask Owner, LLC did appear as an entity formed in Tennessee. The Articles of Organization retrieved from the State of Tennessee reflect that the principal executive office and mailing address of this entity is Keith Weaver, Suite 2000, 600 North Main St., Shelbyville, TN 37160. A true and correct copy of the certified record of the Articles of Organization is attached as Exhibit A. When FCMA inquired into any potential relationship between “Q and Cask, Inc.” and Uncle Nearest, Uncle Nearest, through its financial advisor at the time, advised that Q and Cask, Inc. was a different entity than Quill and Cask Owner, LLC. Now that the Receiver has begun his diligence, the fact that Quill and Cask is an affiliate is undisputed.”
And why is this important? Sounds like foreshadowing.
“Upon information and belief, Quill and Cask made a payment on or about January 30, 2025, in the amount of $275,000 to Uncle Nearest. This payment leads to more questions about the relationship between Quill and Cask and Uncle Nearest.”
Oh boy, and where did the barrels go? Or what was the payment even for? Surely not the glam squad.
“The Weavers and Uncle Nearest have maintained no financial discipline or corporate formalities between the Weavers, Uncle Nearest, the Subject Entities, the Additional Entities, and potentially other entities related to the Weavers. Due to the lack of financial discipline between Uncle Nearest and the Additional Entities, these Additional Entities (and any others the Receiver uncovers as possibly related or transferring money to or from the Weavers, Uncle Nearest, the Subject Entities, or the Additional Entities) should be included in the Receivership Assets.”
This is very likely to be of great interest to the investors as well, who are probably only just now beginning to realize what’s been done with their investment.
“Because of the wholesale absence of structure between the Weavers, Uncle Nearest, and the Additional Entities, in the interest of equity and to ensure all available and intertwined assets are brought within the receivership, the Additional Entities (and potentially more) should be included. Without their inclusion in the receivership, the Receiver will be left with an incomplete picture of the finances of the Uncle Nearest and Weaver enterprise and without access to assets that should be administered as Receivership Assets for the benefit of all impacted stakeholders.”
This absence can only rest at the feet of the CEO. This is why they exist. Structure. I believe that not only was there flimflammery, but also grotesque amounts of incompetence.
The Second Course got commingled with the first and third. I’ll see myself out now.
“Based on information that FCMA has received or been made aware of, FCMA believes that all of the Additional Entities should be a part of the receivership estate. At a minimum, Grant Sidney, Humble Baron, and Quill and Cask are all entities whose own operations and finances are so comingled with Uncle Nearest’s that their inclusion in the scope of the Receivership Assets is warranted. The Receiver’s ability to obtain an accurate financial and operational understanding of all entities relating to Uncle Nearest is critical to allow him to operate in accordance with his duties.”
“Further, to complete the financial and operational understanding, the Receiver must have the power to review books and records of all the other Additional Entities and any other entities that he discovers may be related to Uncle Nearest and any other Receivership Asset. Moreover, the Receiver is subject to quarterly reporting, and once he has full access to information, he can always move to remove any of the Additional Entities to the extent his diligence reveals they are unrelated to the Receivership Assets.”
Seems to me the books are junk, and the receiver needs these assets to once and for all, audit the financials.
FINAL THOUGHTS-
The bank has apparently done some homework, and their argument appears on the surface to be very convincing. I’m curious if the Weaver’s will file a social media post, I mean, file a document to the court arguing against, or if they’re still counting on God to somehow kick a winning field goal. Inclusion of these assets will likely make it more likely that non-bank creditors will somehow finally get paid something. I cannot imagine how this will be spun as a win by Fawn if the inclusion happens, the Grant Sidney inclusion alone should be deeply concerning, but I’m sure it will be.
CEO cats sometimes get in their feelings and rage comment. You know, like successful business people do.
UPDATE 9/22-
Still no word on the additions to the receivership, but some drama on the onlines. Let’s cut it up.
An African-American Media Company posted an article with the headline “Uncle Nearest one step closer to bankruptcy.”
Nothing crazy about that. It’s possible that bankruptcy could happen. Several firms were in fact hired that specialize in bankruptcy (among other things of course), so it’s at least being looked at.
But something nutty happened later on. Uncle Nearest commented on the post with a lonnnnng comment.
UN boosted on others positive posts, and said that the headline was TMZ style clickbait. Look, TMZ is absolutely clickbait, but they’re often right. I don’t think that speculating that bankruptcy could happen is clickbait.
The comments were overwhelmingly pro-Fawn, which is unsurprising, because who would dare enter into that cesspool trying to say anything different?
The post was later on removed, likely by the poster.
Also, don’t worry, I have some screenshots.
Someone else recently entered the chat, oh yeah, that was TDG.
Other than their own lawyer in a court document saying that they had discussed bankruptcy, and also discussing it with investors, yeah no, they haven’t talked about bankruptcy at all.
Well, we know it isn’t desired. She said so to investors. Also, now she’s blaming someone else? Not just Senzaki? Now the comptroller?
A lot of people are in fact checking the source materials. That’s why we can’t understand the propaganda!
It’s easy to have more fans than haters when you delete the comments. Also, not everyone wants UN to fail. Not this guy.
PT Barnum would have loved the “clear the shelves” campaign.
You guys are playing around too much. Brave being in those comments.
And then, another media group posted another article referring to the original article. They intelligently throttled the comments which should reduce the amount of nonsense that drowns out those that are asking questions and challenging the propaganda.
A better headline, and probably also clickbait- “CEO says words, no idea if true or not.”
Ultimately it’s online drama, and completely irrelevant to the action in the courtroom, but it’s part of the overall picture of a company in crisis. The loudest voices are not always the most truthful, it’s often just the loudest. Great leaders own their mistakes. Great leaders hold their team accountable, but the responsibility is always theirs and theirs alone. When a leader absolves themself of responsibility and freely assesses blame, they’ve lost the plot.
This entire saga is probably about ego, prestige, and flimflammery.
Also, below, two consecutive stories on Fawn’s IG. Almost the same caption, but the numbers are different. Probably want to get the new CFO to verify which is correct.
261% is a “wow” number but meaningless without case counts and dollars.
Damn, their sales dropped multiple percentage points in a story a bit later. Well, good thing we aren’t investors in this company.
Receiver Cat on the left. Unicorn Cat on the right. A tale of two cats.
UPDATE 9/19-
A brief bit today while we wait on the judge to decide on whether to add everything to the receivership or not. Just some thoughts mostly, and some things that apparently a lot of people don’t know.
I didn’t expect the book story to be a big thing, but I’ve seen some commentary elsewhere where I think some folks may have missed the point, and perhaps it’s because I didn’t explain it well. It’s not so much about the marketing move of juicing book rankings/sales, but also what went on behind it.
There was a book tour where Fawn set an interplanetary record for most books signed or something. Each of these stops cost Uncle Nearest actual money. Hotels, flights, transportation, Glam Squad, food, entertainment, and a team of handlers to support the events that all require their own accommodations/transport and likely per diems for food.
These funds are likely all paid by Uncle Nearest.
Sure, you can chalk this up to marketing, but it sure seems like self-dealing when the royalties for the book go to the author and not the company that funded the tour.
Marketing is gonna market, I know this, but every time Fawn says that UN whiskey is Gluten-Free, Sugar Free, Fat Free, Carb Free, Additive Free (Truth Free probably), I have to chuckle. Love this excerpt from their website below.
They send random samples to what TTB certified laboratory? WTF is a triple certified lab? Everything with this brand is EXTRA.
This is pretty much most whiskey. Derrrrrp.
Did you know that the famous picture that is used on the cover of Love and Whiskey is NOT Nearest Green? Many people do not in fact know this, and it continues to surprise me. Yes, even the Angel on my shoulder didn’t know. Who is it then? Well, It’s his son George. There are no known photographs of Uncle Nearest himself. 10,000 artifacts don’t lie, and in all fairness, UN’s own website and Fawn’s book mentions that there are no known photos. TRUTH AT LAST! I suppose if you didn’t get a free book it’s easy to assume that it was Nearest.
Can we talk about the investors for just a moment? When I began writing these stories, I had decided to heavily focus on the front line employees (and the court documents) because in sagas like this, they are usually the ones that get overlooked. I will continue to prioritize their stories, but the investors story is coming soon. I will say that there are names you will eventually commit to memory, as they are just as important to this dumpster fire of a story as Weaver/Senzaki.
More to come stay tuned.
It’s excruciating to watch social media when you know what is happening behind the scenes.
Layoffs have begun. The scope is unknown at this time, but people are departing the company. I hope they find something better soon and many of them did not deserve having to go through all of this.
This season of Shark Tank should be a laugh-riot. I for one will be cringe watching.
World’s Best Cat Dad is packing it up, while CEO Cat lives it up.
TDG Cat realizing that they might not get their money…….
UPDATE 9/18-
Well folks, it’s heating up. Tennessee Distilling Group has entered the chat with a court filed “Notice of Appearance and Request for Service.” Tennessee Distilling Group is who makes the whiskey for Uncle Nearest. Yeah, the actual distiller. What does that mean? Pour yourself a beverage and try to remember that some people were built for this. My opinions/thoughts/commentary will be italicized. From the document filed with the court (don’t worry it’s short, but very intentional)-
“NOTICE OF APPEARANCE AND REQUEST FOR SERVICE
The undersigned files this Appearance in the above cause and gives notice that Lucas A.Davidson will appear and represent the interests of Tennessee Distilling Group, LLC. Counsel requests service of all filings and notices in this cause in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee at:
Lucas A. Davidson, Esq.
ldavidson@buchalter.com
1 Music Circle South, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37203
T: (629) 224-6600
F: (213) 896-0400”
As Neo once said, “oh deja vu.”
WHAT COULD IT MEAN?
A Notice of Appearance is a legal document filed by an attorney, usually in a bankruptcy case. It indicates that the attorney represents a specific party, in this case Tennessee Distilling Group, often a creditor. The document can serve a few purposes.
It notifies the court and other parties (like a receiver) that the attorney is representing a client.
It requests to receive copies of all documents filed in the case, ensuring the attorney, and TDG, stay informed about the proceedings.
Court documents like this are frequently filed by secured creditors to monitor the bankruptcy process. If there is one. Looks like one, walks like one, quacks like one…
A Request for Service is often included in these filings. It asks to be served with relevant documents related to the case. This ensures that they get timely updates about hearings, motions, etc.. It also establishes a formal line of communication with the court.
If you didn’t know, TDG is the distillery that Uncle Nearest contracts with to produce their whiskey. Because, you know, their actual still sits idle…
While I’ll have to consult with the Ouija board to try and predict what’s about to come, I have eyes, and what I see is that the future looks bleak. TDG is one creditor. I have identified One Hundred and Sixty potential creditors.
Do you have any idea how big this book will be in Kansas City?
UPDATE 9/15-
With two weeks and change to go before the first report is due back to court, I have a little story for you, so sit back, pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and clutch your pearls whenever appropriate.
Let’s talk about books. Recent revelations suggest that the Uncle Nearest approach to narrative building may extend beyond just heritage and branding.
According to multiple credible sources with direct knowledge of operations, Uncle Nearest management allegedly instructed some employees to take specific actions designed to artificially elevate the book Love and Whiskey to bestseller status, actions that raise ethical concerns and could potentially violate the terms of various online platforms.
The sources, who have requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation, shared that some employees were directed to purchase the book via their personal Amazon accounts while using company credit cards to complete the transactions. This method, was possibly intended to simulate widespread consumer interest while masking the coordinated nature of the effort. Each order was shipped not just to the employees themselves, but to a curated list of preferred clients, customers, and industry representatives, ensuring targeted visibility.
This strategy of paying full retail price across a broad set of personal accounts may have been intended to influence the book’s positioning on Amazon’s sales rankings, which in turn can have a ripple effect across industry bestseller lists. Bulk wholesale orders from a single account often don’t count toward list placement, but a large number of individual purchases can.
According to documents obtained by this blog, employees appear to have been directed to purchase books with specific directions from management.
“STAGE ONE-
1- Log-in to your PERSONAL Amazon account.
2- Add your Company JP Morgan Chase Card.
3- Order yourself Love & Whiskey (via presale link)
4- Order (5) of your friends and family members a presale book, who you KNOW loves to read, and will take the time to write a review on Amazon and Goodreads. (Do each individually).
STAGE TWO-
1- Log-in to your PERSONAL Amazon account.
2- Order books for our local distributors (list of contact information not included by blogger cat as it holds personal information) as this will become their bible when selling the Uncle Nearest brand in the market.
3- Once all are complete, please send back an email confirming this was done.
4- In the email, please confirm the # sent to friends and family + the list we gave you.
STAGE THREE-
1 Log-in to your PERSONAL Amazon account.
2- Order books for our local distributors (the list of contact information withheld by blogger cat, again due to privacy protection) as this will become their bible when selling the Uncle Nearest Brand in the market.
3- If you have an ambassador, please order five for them to give to their top accounts who they want to have this new “bible” for our brand.
4- Once all complete, please send back an email confirming this was done. “
NOTE- the list of contact information documents are not posted as they list private information of recipients but the amount of books ordered was staggering.
I’ve read the audiobook from Libby, and well, I’d give it a 5 star review just on the insights you can learn about the author along the way.
Some employees were also asked to write and post glowing reviews on Goodreads, the popular book rating platform, and then copy those same reviews onto Amazon. In addition, they were encouraged to reach out to recipients of the book, urging them to do the same, review the book positively and help amplify its presence online.
The same batch of documents provided more specific guidance-
“Because of the NYT algorithm, that isn’t based on just pure sales. Hitting it once is near impossible (over 2.5 million books publish yearly and only a fraction a percentage will ever come close to even hitting the NYT list), so this a HUGE feat. All your efforts are continuing to make this book a success, which is leading to us introducing our brand to new customers every single day!”
“Getting to 100 ratings on Amazon will significantly impact the visibility of Love & Whiskey…and we are almost there with 93 ratings as of this AM! Something you should know is that you don’t have to have purchased this book on Amazon to review it, and just getting us these ratings (without a review) is immensely helpful. “
“And every 100 ratings after that takes us even more visible in Amazon’s algorithm. “
“Our GOAL is to get to 1000 ratings, and here’s why it matters:
Algorithm boost: Amazon’s algorithm gives more visibility to books with higher ratings, making “Love & Whiskey” more likely to appear in recommendations and search results. (Also, see above, as reviews help with the NYT algorithm, as well.)
Visibility: Books with ore ratings are more likely to be recommended by Amazon. This means more people will discover “Love & Whiskey.”
Credibility: Higher ratings and reviews build trust with potential readers, showing them that this book is worth their time.
Sales Boost: Increased visibility and credibility directly lead to more sales. More sales mean more readers experiencing out story and more buzz around the book.
Your ratings and reviews, as well as those from your friends and family, are cruising in making this happen. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to leave (at a minimum) a rating on Amazon. Every singe one counts and brings us closer to our goal. Please also share the above with your friends and family”
Kinda feel bad for Clay at this point.
In a separate communication, some employees were reminded to-
“Please go on Good Reads TODAY and post your review, and please ask those that you have gifted to also do the same as they start to receive and read them.”
In the same communication they are encouraged to-
“Once you do your review on Good Reads, please copy, and paste into Amazon reviews as well. (link provided).
“Please confirm with me once you have posted your review.”
Blogger cat note- Amazon shows 875 global rankings. Goal missed. Probably got a gold medal anyway.
While coordinated marketing efforts are nothing new, this kind of internal orchestration walks a fine line. It raises questions about radical transparency, manipulation of consumer perception, and the ethics of manufactured enthusiasm. Platforms like Amazon and Goodreads have explicit rules against incentivized or coordinated reviews, especially if they are not organic or disclosed.
As of this writing, Love and Whiskey maintains a strong review profile and visibility on several online platforms. Whether this strategy will have longer term reputational consequences for Uncle Nearest remains to be seen.
This story offers a timely reminder that in an era where visibility often trumps authenticity, even the brands with the best story aren’t above scrutiny. Consumers and readers deserve to know when what looks like grassroots support might actually be the result of a tightly controlled campaign.
Gail is right, perhaps we should call FW to investigate what happened over there.
A FEW PARTING THOUGHTS-
When I started looking at this story, my initial thoughts were, so what? Wh0 cares? Using Amazon this way seems to be a really good way to save on the logistics of getting books out to clients, reps and patrons. Saves on shipping costs (with Prime), and packaging, labor to unbox, individually box, ship etc..
The more I thought about it, paying “retail” price via Amazon, might have been cheaper than doing all the things I mentioned above, made some sense, but something kept nagging at me.
It’s a question I still don’t have an answer to, but I’m left wondering-
If Uncle Nearest funds were spent on book purchases, where did the royalty money for the books go?
Did you know that the goal of Monopoly is to not go bankrupt and to stay out of jail? It’s like real life.
UPDATE 9/13-
The Receiver, now known here as the #RealPeoplesCEO, filed some documents with the court yesterday. We are fully loaded with three full ounces of cold brew concentrate so let’s break them down. Remember, my commentary/thoughts/opinions are italicized. There is a lot, so keep scrolling.
Document #1 is a notice of the Receivers Professionals (essentially, who he has hired for assistance). Please note that this first document is VERY relevant to the document that follows.
“Receiver has retained Newpoint Advisors Corporation as the financial consultant for this receivership. “
This company offers many services, but notably they assist with restructuring under U.S. bankruptcy law (notably Subchapter V for small businesses), receiverships, assignments for the benefit of creditors, and liquidations where needed.
“Receiver has retained Thoroughbred Spirits Group as the operational consultant for this receivership.”
This is a company with expertise in planning, and scaling. They also do financial assessments.
“Receiver has retained the law firm of Belcher, Sykes, & Harrington PLLC to serve as alcoholic beverage counsel for this receivership.”
The spirits industry is complex. Overly so. Good to have folks that know something about it around you, unlike what’s been happening.
“Receiver has retained Herald Law Firm in Paris, France to domesticate the receivership order in France, and to assist in the evaluation and/or liquidation of this receivership estate’s French assets.”
This could be a Scooby-Doo “Ruh-roh Shaggy” moment.
“Receiver has retained Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, to domesticate the receivership order in Massachusetts, and to assist in the evaluation and/or liquidation of the receivership’s estate’s Massachusetts assets.”
Those assets possibly including a twice mortgaged house?
“Receiver has retained the law firm of which he is a member, Thompson Burton, PLLC, to advise him on all other legal aspects related to this receivership.”
It’s always advisable to phone a friend when in need, and all of this will make more sense when we break down the next court document below.
The services provided by the recently retained Newpoint Advisors Corporation. Notably missing- fun handshake routines.
Document #2 is a fascinating read so I won’t delay. The #RealPeoplesCEO submitted a Motion for clarification of receivership order.
“In support of this Motion for Clarification, the Receiver states as follows: during his investigation of Receivership Assets, which involved a diligent review of Uncle Nearest, Inc.’s books and records, financial statements, corporate documents, and other relevant contractual agreements, the Receiver has identified several entities (the “Entities”) that appear to be somewhat related to Uncle Nearest, Inc. and may fall within the scope of the Court’s Order including: “
Notably, several of these were already known to the blogger cats. Some though were not. Receiver cat is doing the work it would seem.
“Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holding LLC, A Tennessee Limited Liability Company. While this entity was listed in the Complaint, because it was not specifically listed in the Order, certain financial institutions are confused about whether its assets are subject to this receivership.”
Someone at some place, did their homework and asked questions, which is what competent people should be doing.
“Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC, A Tennessee Limited Liability Company. This entity is believed to be owned by Keith Weaver. It operates from the Uncle Nearest/Nearest Green property, but appears to be separate financially from Uncle Nearest.”
This is interesting. Fawn mentions this place in Lynchburg in her book. It is owned by Chuck Baker. The second location is on the property in Shelbyville, and while it says it’s Chuck’s second location, the receiver seems to think differently here. UPDATE- The location in Shelbyville lists an email address for contact that is info@nashwood.com. Perhaps the Weavers invested in Chuck’s business? Oh noes. Also Fawn apparently reviewed them both on DoorDash under the user name Fawn W. Any bet on how many stars? 5.
“Humble Baron, Inc, a Delaware Corporation. This entity appears to be owned by a blind trust that benefits Keith Weaver. Upon information and belief, this entity must be owned by a blind trust in order to keep its restaurant license separate from Uncle Nearest’s distilling license. It operates from the Uncle Nearest/Nearest Green property, but appears to be separate financially from Uncle Nearest.”
I’m admittedly unfamiliar with Tennessee laws regarding this so I’ll leave it untouched.
“Grant Sidney, Inc., a Tennessee Coporation. Upon information and belief, this entity is owned by Fawn Weaver. It is the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest and has contributed capital to Uncle Nearest from time to time. The receiver believes that this company also owns interests in other spirits unrelated to Uncle Nearest.”
This is Fawn’s own company. She mentioned that she put some of her own scratch into UN to keep it going, it probably came from this company. It’s game on now if he wants this as part of the receivership. Also, this means he knows how much of the company she owns. A CAP table has to be coming soon much to the interest of the investors who still have no exit options.
“Uncle Nearest Spurs VI, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company. It is unclear how this entity is related to Uncle Nearest. This entity was revealed in a general search of the Delaware corporate records.”
I mean, are they going to open a cowboy boot shop with branded Cowboy Hats and Spurs? I dunno man, I’m just a blogger cat.
“Quill and Cask Owner, LLC, a Tennessee LLC. Upon information and belief, this entity is owned by Fawn and Keith Weaver. It has contributed capital to Uncle Nearest from time to time, and has purchased barrels of spirits from Uncle Nearest.”
I have questions. Barrel picks? Gifts? Barrels that were sold to increase cash flow? Where did the whiskey go? Not much is available about this company but I’ll keep looking.
Could be a different Fawn W. Might be, coincidences are common are they not?
The document continues-
“Nashwood Inc., a Delaware Corporation. Upon information and belief, this entity is owned by Fawn and/or Keith Weaver and operates Tolley House Bed & Breakfast in Lynchburg, Tennessee. It shares a common corporate address with many of the Weaver’s other corporate entities. “
The only clue about Fawns involvement is the “About us” section which seems to copy from her book, which if you read the thing….
“Classic Hops Brewing Co. Upon information and belief, this was a concept began by Keith Weaver. It is unclear whether this entity was ever incorporated or fully operational.”
I mean if you really want to set more investor money on fire, might as well open a craft beer company.
“Shelbyville Grand, LLC, a Tennessee LLC. Upon information and belief, this entity is owned by Fawn and/or Keith Weaver and operates from the same location as several other of the Weavers’ corporate entities. It is unclear the purpose or function of this entity, but it appears in certain corporate records.”
It is possible that they purchased property at the 100 Public Square North location in 2022.
What’s another $900k or so?
The document continues to continue-
“Weaver Interwoven Family Foundation. The ownership and function of this entity is unknown, but it appears in certain corporate records of Uncle Nearest.“
This one is going to be incredibly interesting. I don’t have time to get into this rabbit hole, will probably have to wait for a forensic accounting report.
“Park Street LLC, a Delaware LLC. Upon information and belief, this entity is owned by Keith and/or Fawn Weaver. It maintains bank accounts at similar banks as Uncle Nearest and, upon information and belief, the Weavers are signatories on those bank accounts. Its purpose and function are unknown to the receiver.”
Receiver cat better not find sacks of cash under the bed.
“As indicated above, each of the Companies is related to Uncle Nearest, Inc. by common ownership, common business operations, and/or common financial operations. The Receiver makes no representation about whether these entities should be included within the scope of this receivership* (*-see below). Rather, the Receiver files this Motion for Clarification to seek the Court’s determination as to whether it intended the entities listed above to fall within the scope of the Receivership Assets under the Order. The Receiver endeavors to fully and completely carry out the wishes and instructions of this court. WHEREFORE, Receiver respectfully requests the Court enter an Order clarifying whether the entities listed above are within the scope of the Receivership Assets under Paragraph 2 of the Order.”
Seems as if the receiver is asking for permission to go here. He probably knows there’s a here to go to.
*“Based upon conversation with Fawn and Keith Weaver, the Receiver expects them to argue that these other entities and their assets should be beyond the scope of this receivership. Based upon conversations with counsel for the secured lender, the Receiver expects it to argue that these entities and their assets should be included in this receivership. Therefore, the Receiver seeks the Court’s Guidance on this issue.”
Yeah, I saved this for last. Sorry. This is probably the ballgame right here. The bank likely wants to know where all this money has gone, and what LLC holds it so they can get their nut back. The Weavers likely don’t want their “personal” money touched. Investors probably didn’t like their personal money “touched” either.
Everyone is reading tea leaves, consulting the bones, the magic 8 ball, Ouija, and every other thing trying to make sense of it all.
UPDATE 9/12-
There is so much going on, we should see a flurry of updates over the next few days. Right now, every little thing is being overanalyzed because there is so little public information.
We are down to 19 days before the first quarterly report is presented to the court/bank/Weavers.
The receiver has been on the job for a couple weeks now, so we should see some moves being made.
I predict that staffing reductions will be coming if the financials are as bad as I think they are. .
I have a book story for you all on Monday morning.
I have a feeling that the narrative is about to change significantly in regards to the Weaver’s and their future with Uncle Nearest.
Below is a form letter that was sent out to multiple contacts dated 8/27/25. Posted purely for your perusal.
I wouldn’t read too much into this. It’s fairly standard stuff.
I keep reminding myself that his job is to run UN, not blow it up. Of course the Weaver’s will still be involved.
Do not revere the pirate cat, for the pirate cat is an actual thief.
UPDATE 9/7-
Do not mistake my recent silence for not updating this page. I’m dealing with real life things, and touching grass now and then. It’s healthy. Also KBF. Anyway, while I continue to dig, there’s a really interesting story about a brand that was part of the so called UN Fund that was supposed to invest in up and coming brands. I encourage you to read it, because it’s so freaking relevant to how UN has been run. Check it out here, and kudos to the writer for doing the work.
Employee cat loves a plastic appreciation cup.
UPDATE 9/2-
A couple of quick hits today-
It was unofficial employee appreciation weekend at the distillery (aka Labor Day). They all got a lovely note and leftover plastic swag cups. The note said, “You are SO appreciated! Thank you for everything you do. - Team NGD”
Fawn shared a story over the weekend that said after being at the distillery “all afternoon”……
“Employers will really get this- the number of team members that I had that pulled me aside to say this is the best job I’ve ever had….. thank you thank you for building it, thank you for seeing us, thank you for fighting in this time, and zero chance I wouldn’t fight (AWKWARD LOUD LAUGH), kinda built for that. It was a beautiful thing and I love my team, and so it’s amazing to have them to show the same amount of love I have for them back.”
Odd flex that employers would get this, and also, thanking someone for fighting in a situation they entirely allowed to happen is also strange. Why is it always about how much love she gets when the team got surplus plastic cups? I’m going to add this story to the list of things that probably didn’t happen, because, well, it probably didn’t happen.
It’s probably just a coincidence that one of the brands (Equiano Rum) that UN “invested” in is having a bit of a dispute.
Another rabbit hole in a field full of them.
Crave Communications Limited isn’t Equiano. But they do hold the trademark.
I’m not the smartest man, but Aaisha isn’t one of these…?
$2 million eh? Did you know that “Eh?” is Canadian for nonsense? That’s probably true only in my head.
The Uncle Nearest Venture Fund roster. Coincidence? Perhaps.
The 777 Club, where your whiskey is likely younger than what the label says. Allegedly.
UPDATE 8/31-
It’s quiet on the update front right now, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t happening in the background. Right now the only voice will be Fawn Weaver, until 10/1/25 when the first quarterly report is due from the receiver. Fair? No. There are a boatload of rumors right now, and until we have on-record confirmation, we sit on our paws waiting like everyone else.
Payroll was met it seems. Good! The Receiver powers up to level 2 CEO.
The claims of all the tours selling out are farcical, this weekend notwithstanding. A quick look at the website shows the tour availability fairly open. Not saying people aren’t going, they are, it’s labor day weekend after all, but it’s just hype.
The People’s CMO continues to talk about the $60m distillery that she built that you can’t walk around because of how many people are visiting. I still have a hard time thinking about how a lot of investor money was spent on a Hollywood Set.
I checked out the book Love & Whiskey on the Libby app, and one guess who narrates the book. Also, there’s precious little in the book other than The People’s CMO personal diary entries about her time in Lynchburg and spending money they didn’t have on the Call house/farm….
Payday cat, is praying.
UPDATE 8/28-
I know it’s been a little quiet, but that’s mainly because these updates refuse to write themselves while I’m busy. I don’t need Ai, I need a few clones. A few days ago a press release went out from Uncle Nearest announcing the appointment of the receiver. Today I’ll be breaking that down. A reminder that my thoughts/opinions are italicized. A couple things before we get started.
Fawn at InvestFest talking about “This is our Taylor Moment” is why Taylor Cat makes an appearance below. No slag at TS at all.
There’s a lot of speculation that Jack Daniel’s will swoop in and buy Uncle Nearest somehow. A few thoughts I have on this begins with a question- What does Uncle Nearest have that Jack needs?
A still that doesn’t produce? No. Even if it did produce, no one needs still capacity right now. The whiskey industry is in a shift and with Jack having tons of barrels of their own whiskey in storage, age statements returning, no one likely needs to make MORE whiskey.
Aging barrels of whiskey? Again, no. No one needs more barrels. UN even mentioned this in their filings, that flooding the market with barrels would result in a deep haircut on what they could get for them. On top of that, no one needs MORE Tennessee whiskey.
The property? For what? They don’t need horses or event space. A house in Martha’s Vineyard? A gift shop? A Cognac chateau? Vodka?
The only thing that might even possibly be perceived as valuable to Jack Daniel’s parent company Brown-Forman is the Intellectual Property, and they don’t even NEED that. They already have it in the history of their own distillery story now, and they very likely know that producing an Uncle Nearest label under a spirits conglomerate portfolio would likely not be well received in the market place.
Now, anything is possible, but this seems like a huge stretch for a company that sold their cooperage not long ago and just reported a 3% decrease in net sales. .
Let’s break down the press release below.
Garbage Can Cat isn’t impressed by illusionists. Might chase that red light later though. Haven’t yet decided.
“ Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey today announced that Phillip Young, a partner at the Nashville-based law firm of Thompson Burton PLLC, has been appointed as the receiver for the company. This appointment, made by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, is in connection with a loan default case. The company wants to reassure its customers, suppliers, and all interested parties that operations will continue uninterrupted.”
Receivers typically don’t enter a company and start thrashing about like a maniac. Part of their purpose is reassurance to employees, contractors, partners etc.. so that business continues while they determine whether the business is solvent, and if it could be a viable concern for the future. Closing a place down at jump, would not be helpful.
“A receivership is a court-supervised process designed to protect and preserve a company's assets and business value. The appointment of Young is a strategic and positive step to ensure the company’s future health and stability. Under the receivership, the company's day-to-day operations will continue without disruption. Production, distribution, and all business functions will proceed as usual.”
Oh well, yeah they definitely said it better than I did.
“I understand that this news may raise questions, but I want to be clear that this is not a negative development for Uncle Nearest,” said Phillip Young, on behalf of the company. “Uncle Nearest’s primary goal remains unchanged: to continue producing the award-winning Tennessee whiskey that customers love and expect. I look forward to continuing the company’s strong commitment to its community, its partners, and to honoring the legacy of Nearest Green.”
I want to know in what world where having a court appoint someone to run your company is not a negative development, but hey, the receiver said it, and I’m guessing he’s operating under some kind of “do no harm” thing, and that makes some sense. I suppose this avoids the “maniac thrashing about” perception. I think we can also understand the “propaganda” parts from Mr. Phillip because he is running the company for the time being.
“‘We fully support the court’s appointment of Phillip Young as receiver,’ said Fawn and Keith Weaver, owners of Uncle Nearest, Inc. ‘Many people misunderstand receiverships, but in some cases they are a powerful tool for strengthening a company. That is the case here.’”
I think by now, we all understand that whether or not it’s supported (remember, they were in court trying to prevent a receivership at all), he’s there, and what else are you going to say to the person that now runs the company? I’ll give them this, it costs nothing to be polite. Advice I should probably take myself sometimes. In some cases, receiverships are powerful, because the receivers aren’t interested in anything BUT running the business. They have no image to nurture, or conferences to speak at, events to host. Their job is overseeing operations, like a functioning and hopefully competent CEO might.
“Phillip Young, as the court-appointed receiver, will now assume full management and operational control of the company. Young will work to resolve the outstanding financial matters and position the company for a sustainable and successful future. While Young will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, Fawn Weaver will continue to own Uncle Nearest, and both Fawn Weaver and Keith Weaver will remain deeply engaged in the stewardship of the Uncle Nearest brand.”
Everyone say hi to Mr. Phillip, and offer your thoughts and prayers. He’s got a very big job ahead of him. Also, what’s the under/over on the “misunderstanding” of what stewardship means.
"My role is to serve as a neutral party, appointed by the court, to manage the company's affairs in a way that benefits all stakeholders," said Phillip Young. "I am confident that working with the dedicated team at Uncle Nearest, we will ensure a smooth transition and maintain the company's reputation for excellence and quality. The receivership is intended to improve relations and stabilize the business, not to make them worse. My team and I are fully committed to this mission."
Pretty good. No notes. Something to pay attention to though, “My team and I.”
“Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey remains focused on its core business, its employees, and its loyal customers. The company will provide updates as appropriate throughout this process.”
We are most interested in the update due on October 1, 2025.
“For more information about Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey or to read the latest updates on the receivership process, please visit www.unclenearest.com.”
I mean, one could use that link to read the latest updates, but why go there? They have no cats. (The link was in the release, and currently just takes you to their homepage, and the press section is just a clout collection of links to stories in the media) .
Blogger cat is sorry. Meow. See, it’s not so hard to say “sorry” when you make a lil’ oopsie..
UPDATE 8/25-
Today I’m doing all the things I should’ve been doing in my personal life all week, while I worked on this. Today’s update is me issuing a correction to my post yesterday, so here goes.
I erroneously reported that Fawn had submitted her affidavit / declaration to the court. I was wrong. She did not submit the document I reported on yesterday to the court. It was emailed to investors.
While the document is real, it’s embarrassing that I got something wrong that was not opinion based.
I apologize.
Somewhere, Mike Senzaki is probably relieved that he isn’t being blamed for this too.
I think we all understand that no caption can add anything here.
UPDATE 8/24-
Today we are going to break down the affidavit that Fawn Weaver submitted to the court just before the receivership was granted. It’s long, and I’m sorry. Before we get to that a couple things. CORRECTION- This was not filed in court. See above.
I have opinions, which I will continue to post in italics, and sometimes through the cats.
Invest Fest was an interesting bit of theatre.
Mike, it must feel like the world is on your shoulders. No, I don’t believe you’re the reason the Buffalo Bills have never won a Super Bowl.
Let’s break it down. Please note that there are some salacious claims that I will not be posting or discussing, as a persons private life is no one’s business but their own. Also, shame on you Fawn.
Here we go.
“I submit this declaration to clarify and supplement the record following the hearing held on August 7, 2025, where the plaintiff made statements that require correction. The bank claimed that “Fawn Weaver misused loan funds in several significant ways,” which is not only inaccurate, it is a flat-out lie used to smear my good reputation.”
Accusing a bank, a part of a heavily regulated industry, of lying, is a bold move.
“The fact is that not a single penny of the loan proceeds from Farm Credit was used to purchase anything other than real estate and whiskey barrels, first through procurement and then by producing our own.”
I’d like to remind the audience that to claim that not one single penny was used on anything but property/barrels, not even a single packet of Flavor-Aid, is surely a risky statement.
“Since learning of the fraud committed by our former CFO, I have personally invested over $1.5 million of my own money into Uncle Nearest to ensure the company could continue to grow, even in spite of what has already been uncovered through an internal investigation and what we expect the findings of the third-party investigation to be.”
Since learning of the fraud, she has spent her own scratch so the company could grow. Weren’t sales going through the roof? Also, if evidence of fraud as claimed, shouldn’t there be law enforcement involvement? It still comes down to who gets to see the books.
“From the time I founded the company, I did not pay myself a salary for the first year or so. When I began paying myself, it was $90,000 per year plus shares of the company, and to this day, my salary remains $90,000 per year. I have reinvested into the company every penny I have ever earned from it. The reason Uncle Nearest, Inc. owns over $200 million in hard assets, real estate, whiskey barrels, and finished goods, is because every bit of the loan was invested into the business.”
Reinvested every penny earned, is not the same as reinvesting every penny benefited from. Who pays for the flights, cars, parties, personal security, etc..? Also, how many shares of the company and at what valuation? Steve Jobs famously had a $1 annual salary. He was also paid in shares, and we know he wasn’t living on a dollar a year.. So, were any of those shares traded? Sold? Unknown.
“The property in Martha’s Vineyard, named Uncle Nearest House on the Vineyard, which the bank approved before it was purchased and which has already proven to be a brilliant investment, becoming an example of this alleged misuse is odd to say the least, given the bank’s involvement and demonstrable support from prior to us purchasing the property.”
The bank has never claimed that the purchase of the house in Martha’s Vineyard (fun fact Jaws filmed in that town) was not supported, or approved. They didn’t like the collateral being taken from them and mortgaged to another lender. Also, no way to know about whether it was a sound investment or not, it’s probably on page 47 of a fake book called, “Trust Me Bro.”
“The bank never moved to perfect several real estate properties pledged to Uncle Nearest, Inc., and it was not our job to deliver to them deeds of trust that they never requested. This notion expects that I, as the customer, know what it is the bank is looking for from us, without them stating it.”
Ignorance of the rules or law, is seldom a good defense. Trust Me Bro.
“The fair market value of assets owned by Uncle Nearest is approximately $210 million, over double the $102 million owed to the bank, with even the most conservative valuation significantly higher than the debt in question.”
Is it so hard to say that you overextended yourself and that you’re going to sell some assets and clean up the books? Trick question, we all know the answer.
“In a distressed receivership, however, that value would drop to between $25–30 million because I am the sole responsible party on the license that allows for the Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) at Nearest Green Distillery.”
I’m confused. How does the value drop that much with $210m in assets?
Bartender cat shouldn’t have to wait to collect their tips from the fat cats.
“Without that license, the location — currently the 7th most visited distillery in the world and ranked #1 worldwide — would revert to farmland worth between $12–14 million. With the current overstock of aged whiskey being liquidated across the country, flooding the market with the additional 57,000 barrels the bank has indicated would result in pennies on the dollar. Most devastatingly, the Uncle Nearest brand itself would become worthless, as whiskey buyers would view the company as having been taken from me — the woman they have watched build it in public view, going city to city speaking to thousands of people and appearing on nearly every major media outlet since 2017.”
If you put on your propaganda blockers, there’s some truth here. Moving barrels in a distressed whiskey economy would be a problem, no one needs barrels, especially surplus Tennessee whiskey. That there would be a significant haircut on the barrels is absolutely true and they know this because it is alleged they’ve already sold some. But wait, there’s even more truth- The brand itself would become worthless, not because it would be viewed as taken from her (self declared btw), but because it’s true that this brand cannot exist without African-American ownership, and shouldn’t exist any other way. Also, so much flexing.
“We have also been unable to share the findings of the third-party investigation as it is still an active investigation. In addition, we were not able to share the existence of the third-party investigation with anyone outside of our board, due to the concern of the third-party investigators and legal counsel that premature disclosure — which has now unfortunately occurred as a result of this filing by the bank — could compromise the investigation.”
Page 48 of the fictitious book Trust Me Bro, also, as I can’t share the details, watch the shredding of Senzaki later in this very statement.
BEGIN PROPAGANDA ZONE
“ Uncle Nearest is one of the most exceptional and resilient brands in the American spirits market. As detailed in the letter attached hereto as Exhibit A, written to the leadership at Farm Credit from Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), the nation’s second-largest spirits distributor, Uncle Nearest is now the #1 bourbon brand in their portfolio, replacing long-entrenched legacy offerings such as Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester in thousands of accounts across the country. RNDC’s leadership has confirmed that Uncle Nearest is among the few brands still showing strong depletion rates despite a challenging market, and is one of the only American whiskey brands with double-digit growth across revenue, volume, velocity, and distribution over the past 52 weeks.”
Who asked about any of this? The bank didn’t.
“In every major market in the United States, Uncle Nearest has experienced growth this year. This level of performance would be extraordinary in a strong year for spirits; in the current year, where the overall market is down, it is remarkable. Among the strongest growth markets are Georgia (+54%), Virginia (+54%), Maryland (+49.6%), Ohio (+37.6%), Texas (+33.2%), and North Carolina (+29.8%), followed by Pennsylvania (+24.1%), Florida (+21.6%), New Jersey (+18.5%), and Illinois (+7.1%). Even in more challenging markets, due to being in the midst of distributor changes, we are still seeing growth: New York is up +2.1% and California is up +2.3% through July. What makes this even more extraordinary is that we have achieved this growth after reducing our expenses by 40% between 2024, when we learned about our former CFO’s underreporting of expenses, and today.”
The Bank didn’t question any of this, other than we’d like to see the books. I have a feeling that she knew this was going to be a public record so it’s another opportunity to flex those trust me bro muscles.
END PROPAGANDA ZONE.
Regal cat, is not adored the way they think they are.
“Statements made by the plaintiff during the hearing require correction. Specifically a. The plaintiff’s timeline creates the false impression that their diligence uncovered the barrel overreporting. This is untrue. b. The plaintiff also misrepresented the length of time our former CFO oversaw company finances, inflating his tenure and role. c. The pro forma cash flow statements submitted to the court by the bank regarding our company are wholly inaccurate and were prepared in a way that gives the false impression that our company was not nearly as strong as it is, in spite of this challenge we have encountered with Farm Credit due to a misstatement by our terminated CFO, who is under third-party investigation over additional misstatements and internal findings.”
For those of you keeping track at home, this is the THIRD reference to third party investigations that they cannot share anything about. Also, the bank allegedly inflated Senzaki’s tenure and role, but watch how she will do the same thing about his responsibility later on.
“These pro forma cash flow statements were further distorted because the bank’s financial advisors—who repeatedly threatened a receivership whenever they wanted to pressure us into performing in a certain way—required that our finance team strip out key parts of our cash flow forecast. Two major removals were: (1) all additional sales from our largest distributor, RNDC, despite their letter (attached as Exhibit A) clearly stating purchases would return to earlier purchase levels, and noting that their temporary slowdown was due to challenges within their own sector, not with Uncle Nearest, as our demand has continued to increase; and (2) all Limited Time Offer (“LTO”) sales, even though LTOs are a core part of our forecast for 2025 and every LTO bottle we release sells out immediately—often before we officially release the cases. Our two most coveted LTOs in over five years are scheduled to release in 2025, alongside six other LTOs, yet the advisors required those projected sales to be stripped out while still keeping all related LTO expenses in our forecasts.”
Or they just wanted to see the books.
“ In addition, the bank’s advisors required our Senior Vice President of Finance and Planning to strip out the inventory from our borrowing base certificates that we have through Advanced Spirits, while still including all expenses related to those assets in our profit and loss statements. In other words, our expenses are aligned with the costs of our assets and the sales we expect to generate, but they have removed the assets and the sales those expenses relate to—making our company appear insolvent when that could not be further from the truth.”
“In June 2023, I hired Felicia Gallagher as Senior Vice President of Finance and Planning, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant(CMA), with the goal of evolving our CFO position and strengthening our finance function. My objective, informed by my experience serving on the board of a NYSE publicly traded company and as a member of its audit committee, was to address significant gaps in financial oversight, ensure we were ready for a third-party audit at the end of 2023, and oversee the transition from QuickBooks to NetSuite to implement tighter controls and more accurate reporting.”
Why is this important? A metaphorical attempted murder is about to take place…..
“Our Comptroller, hired in late 2020 by our CFO, had reported to him directly. Gallagher’s role created a dual reporting structure: she would work alongside our former CFO but report directly to me. I instructed Gallagher to inform me immediately if she saw anything concerning during the NetSuite transition.”
Why would that direction be given in June 2023? Oh, 6th Man event was June 8. I think there was a funding round about that time, but I’m sure it’s all unrelated.
“Toward the end of 2023, Gallagher expressed concern that our CFO, while highly personable, was unable to answer key financial questions and could not provide customary backup documentation. My cofounder, Keith Weaver, and I already had concerns about whether the CFO, who joined early in the company’s tenure, remained the right leader for our finance department given our rapid growth.”
He’s nice, but out of his league probably, but we will keep him on another 9 months or so, because he’s nice. Nice is good.
Senzaki cat is about to need a drink. Alms for the pour?
Caution you’re entering Dealy Plaza in a convertible territory.
“In January 2024, we therefore implemented tighter internal controls, including: a. Requiring secondary approval from either Keith Weaver or me for any outgoing wire transfers; b. Having Gallagher work with the CFO to prepare financial statements for both investors and Farm Credit; and c. Assigning Gallagher responsibility for monthly and quarterly financial reporting to Farm Credit.”
Pay attention here. Quarterly financial reporting to Farm Credit, who claimed that they weren’t getting documents when they were required to be provided.
The next section of the affidavit is salacious, and of a personal character attack and I will not be reporting that here, but since the self-declared PeoplesCEO, loves scripture- “He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" according to John 8:7.
“As that statement is salacious and potentially headline-grabbing in nature, we have chosen not to include it here unless specifically asked by the Court. Affidavits from five African American women have solidified the statement our CFO made, however, so we do believe it to be admissible alongside the women’s affidavits.”
We won’t be saying it because it’s salacious, but we said it anyway in court, and here’s a bunch of people that witnessed it. Shame on you. SHAME.
“In January 2024, we missed the January 2, 2024 payment to Farm Credit and I was livid. Every report I had ever received from our CFO showed a very healthy NOI, EBITDA, and cash flow. I brought our former CFO, Gallagher, and Keith together to help explain to me how this could happen. Keith and Gallagher were also confused. Ou former CFO explained that it was just a temporary lull and gave several reasons why it happened and should not be a point of concern. However, the fact that I had never seen a report that forecasted this sort of lull in cash on hand made me move promptly to have Gallagher begin checking all of our former CFO’s work. At the time, we believed he had been dealing with so many personal challenges — including the deaths of both parents in a short period — that his work had just become increasingly sloppy.”
A lil’ oopsie, but not the first default. After the first one, wouldn’t you, nah silly question.
“The move to have Gallagher take over all reporting was less about any suspicion of fraud at the time andmore about what appeared to be a lack of focus, which we attributed to personal challenges in his life. When Gallagher began the reconciliation of the barrel inventory report for Farm Credit, she was able to reconcile the barrels we produced ourselves, but she could not reconcile the “customer procured barrels” shown in our reports. She was transparent with the bank about this and stated she was conducting her own internal audit, noting on the reports submitted beginning in February: “Note: TDG Inventory –Reconciliation complete. Customer Procured Inventory – In progress.”
CEO cat is so understanding.
“Her transparency with the bank showed there were 16,329 barrels she had not yet been able to reconcile. The missed payment to the bank was paid on February 1, 2024, curing that default. On July 1, 2024, we submitted a formal request to modify the loan payment schedule because the way it was originally set up made it challenging from a cash flow perspective. We requested that payments be evenly distributed among the months. According to Gallagher, Brian Klatt was very positive during the call and verbally approved making the accommodation. She confirmed the conversation in writing immediately afterward. The next day, however, Klatt responded in writing with a completely different position than he had stated verbally, and the challenges with the bank relationship began at that time and continued to quickly deteriorate.”
That is a lot of barrels, my napkin math was close, but over.
This is Alphonse Capone, our neighborhood feral cat that we feed. He’s the boss of all bosses, and the inspiration for all the cats you see.
You’re now entering the “it’s not my fault as CEO” zone.
“I never saw a barrel report being sent to Farm Credit until after the discovery of the overstatement, by Gallagher, not the bank. The 100-page credit agreement from 2022 does not call out any specific number of barrels. Those reports were submitted separately by our former CFO and did not require my review, approval, or signature. Likewise, the drawdowns from the revolver also did not require my review, approval, or signature. Although I approved the limit increase, the amount owed did not increase as a direct result of that approval. I approved the increase in the revolver line of credit based on the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss statements presented to me, which showed both a strong EBITDA and NOI. It was not until Gallagher took over the financial reporting that millions of expenses were included which, for reasons we trust the third-party investigation will uncover, had not previously been reported. Once these omitted expenses were added back, they revealed that our EBITDA was negative — not positive as had been shown on every report prepared by our former CFO. The moment I learned this, I acted to drastically reduce expenses to ensure our adjusted EBITDA was in line with where it should be for a business of our size and tenure.”
Independent investigation mention count is now at 4.
“I did not identify the barrel discrepancy earlier because loan increases were always presented to me by our former CFO on a loan-to-value (LTV) basis, not a barrel count. Based on those presentations and the NOI shown in profit-and-loss statements, I believed our cash flow could service the debt without difficulty.”
“Once Gallagher’s corrected report was submitted, we learned we were over our borrowing base. Our CFO claimed this was a mistake. Keith Weaver informed him the error had eroded all confidence in his reporting. Although we removed him from CFO functions, our major investor had previously insisted he be retained — at a time when I believed it was necessary to elevate the function — so my focus could remain on growing the business rather than handling investor relations. Quickly recalling that conversation, we removed financial oversight from his role but allowed him to maintain an investor relations role. Again, at this time, we did not suspect fraud—just a CFO who had been greatly distracted by personal challenges.”
Call me crazy here, but we have a CFO that the CEO and Co-Owner had no confidence in, removed him, and left him in front of investors?
“In October 2024, Farm Credit conducted a field audit of barrels and questioned 19,053 barrels procured through our Master Agreement with Advanced Spirits (“AS”). Under this agreement, Uncle Nearest purchased barrels through AS at a fixed forward price, with our initial payment securing those barrels exclusively for us. The barrels were stored at Tennessee Distilling Group (“TDG”) under the designation “Advanced Spirits c/o Uncle Nearest.” This was a triparty arrangement requiring both AS and Uncle Nearest to authorize TDG before allowing any third party, including Farm Credit, to inspect the barrels. During their audit, Farm Credit reported they could not locate these barrels. Gallagher explained the barrels were present but subject to the triparty access requirement. Farm Credit did not wait for AS’s approval and did not return to inspect them once the access requirements were made clear. Instead, they treated the barrels as absent and recorded a reduction in inventory. In reality, the barrels existed and were contractually secured to Uncle Nearest. Farm Credit’s failure to follow the access protocol and complete their inspection rendered their audit incomplete and inaccurate — consistent with a broader pattern of negligence in their due diligence processes.”
Again, accusing the bank of lying or negligence is a bold move.
Grabby hands cat should probably just go home already.
“Gallagher, a seasoned CPA and CMA, objected to the reduction following the October field audit because GAAP requires counting barrels for which we have full responsibility — including storage, insurance, and partial payment to secure exclusivity. Her inclusion of these barrels was consistent with GAAP, and she continues to stand by that decision, as indicated in her affidavit, which has also been filed with this Court.”
Fair.
“As the CEO of Uncle Nearest, I take full responsibility for the overall stewardship of this company. While I could not have been expected to identify a fraud of this complexity earlier — a fraud that was deliberately concealed and layered in ways that would have required forensic-level financial investigation far beyond what is customary in the CEO role — I recognize that all matters within this company ultimately fall under my leadership. The moment credible concerns were raised, I acted decisively to strengthen controls, bring in a highly credentialed CPA/CMA, remove the CFO from his financial reporting duties, and ensure full compliance with GAAP standards. And the moment I had proof of a fraudulent act, versus a “mistake” or “sloppiness” on behalf of the former CFO, I also acted decisively within 24 hours, requesting that my cofounder and president/COO, Keith Weaver, engage one of the top global firms specializing in this type of investigation to initiate the process immediately.”
Which top global firm? What is the proof? If you have the proof, you could submit it to the court!
“Once the relationship with the bank became untenable, and they threatened receivership, their third-party financial company shared with the restructuring company we had hired — whose core business includes negotiating with banks in situations like this — the amount the bank had approved the assets to be sold for in a receivership situation. In response, we had one of our lead investors — a billionaire with the proven means to close the transaction — make an offer for more than $20 million above what the bank indicated they would approve in a receivership sale to liquidate all assets under the loan agreement. The bank not only rejected the offer outright, but they also refused to provide a counteroffer and instead filed this receivership case with the Court within one business day. These actions reflect my commitment to transparency, accountability, and the long-term strength of Uncle Nearest.”
It is rumored that the investor group offered $70m to buy out the $108m debt and the bank said “lawsuit.” Probably.
“This is a strong company with an outstanding brand, unmatched in its category. The facts show our growth, our resilience, and our commitment to doing right by our investors, our customers, and our partners — and they demonstrate our future financial strength, even as we navigate a temporary cash crunch caused by the slowing of distributor purchases as that industry recalibrates — an issue our largest distributor, RNDC, has confirmed is within their tier and is actively working to resolve — and the millions we have already paid in professional fees related to this bank loan and the ongoing third-party investigation into our former CFO. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on August 14, 2025.
_________________________
Fawn Weaver
CEO & Cofounder
Uncle Nearest, Inc.
And we end the Independent third-party Investigation count at 5. My wrap up below. Can’t believe you read this far, go outside already.
Typing cat is surely developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Wrap up of the affidavit-
The statement emphasizes Fawns personal investment, modest salary, and proactive leadership. The “care” for Senzaki is an attempt at humanizing her and undermine the banks accusations.
She denies the core allegation of misuse of loan funds, and plants the blame firmly on the CFO.
She argues that the receivership push was misguided, and unjustified.
She speaks about the strength of the brand and maintains the surprise of not knowing what was going on. She’s surprised, you’re surprised, the bank was surprised, and now the investors are surprised too.
Terms like “flat out lie”, and “smearing my good reputation” undermine the tone of professionalism that is expected in court affidavits.
Admitting lack of oversight could invite questions about her abdication of financial oversight (which might be very alarming to investors).
It’s strange that she continues to mix the defense of the business with Public Relations gobbledygook. Sales figures are so irrelevant to what’s happening.
Thank you for reading, I’m sorry this was such a long read.
Receivership cat will take it from here thank you very much have a nice time in Martha’s Vineyard, oh and also I need those keys too.
UPDATE 8/23-
I had intended today’s update to dissect the mind boggling affidavit that Fawn Weaver had submitted to investors where she essentially accused CFO Senzaki of just about everything including making sure that the Buffalo Bills never won a Super Bowl, but the judge had other plans and went ahead and assigned the receiver, so that will be the majority of the update today, and the affidavit will have to wait until Sunday.
Before we get started a couple of things-
To everyone that’s contacting me, please be patient with my late responses, I promise I’ll get to you, your stories are important, and I want to hear them, but I’m stretched perilously thin.
A clarification about what I wrote about the still being a “prop.” The still itself is a REAL still. It COULD work. It won’t without the infrastructure I mentioned it needing, but words matter, and the word prop could be interpreted as fake. It’s not fake, it just cannot make whiskey as it stands.
To the Angel on my shoulder, I couldn’t keep doing this without you. Thank you for your guidance, counsel, and support. CHEERS!
The receivership document is 18 pages long. I know the last few updates have been lengthy, and this document is filled with so much legalese, so I’ll post the highlights today because I desperately need to touch grass. Reminder, my commentary will be italicized.
Here are some quick hits if you don’t have the time to dive in a bit deeper.
The Receiver may initiate bankruptcy proceedings. Which is good, because that’s his specialty.
The Receiver can sell receivership property. Which is good for the bank.
The Receiver is authorized to foreclose on any receivership assets with notice, and not needing court approval.
The Receiver is authorized to Investigate and initiate new legal actions to recover Receivership Assets or their proceeds if held unlawfully by any party including Uncle Nearest or its affiliates. If I was someone who did something dumb, this would be my oh shit moment.
The Receiver is authorized to contact anyone and obtain any documents or information he deems necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the receivership. This means any NDA will be undone when speaking with the receiver. It does not mean you can go ham on socials.
Fawn and Keith Weaver may continue to market the brand and manage branding activities, but only under the Receiver’s supervision. I always feel like, somebody’s watching meeeeeeee
Receivership cat is going to have a lot of "one more thing” questions to ask.
I’m going to summarize a lot here since the documents are so wordy. You can get the more detailed stuff below, but I’d pour another pint of cold brew before you do. It's.ok to have another cup of cold brew in the summer.
Management of Uncle Nearest Operations: The Receiver is authorized, empowered, and directed to direct and cause Uncle Nearest and the Subject Entities, and each of their officers, directors, partners, managers, agents, servants, employees, representatives, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with them who receive notice of this Order by personal service or otherwise, to continue to manage all of the ordinary course operations of Uncle Nearest and the Subject Entities. For the avoidance of any doubt, this means Fawn and Keith Weaver may continue to market Uncle Nearest products and manage the Uncle Nearest brand, subject to the Receiver’s supervision.” This is the “Fawn and Keith go sit in the corner and let the adults work” provision.
Keys: The Receiver shall have exclusive (except as such access may be designated by the Receiver) access to all keys, lock combinations, passwords, access cards and other means to access locked areas or devices relating to the Receivership Assets, including all lockboxes and locked drawers and cabinets. The Receiver is authorized to make copies of such keys, passwords, access cards, and other means to access locked areas or devices relating to the Receivership Assets for his use in the administration of the Receivership Assets and the receivership estate. Remember the scene in the first Terminator movie where the Terminator says, “Your clothes, give them to me, NOW!.” This reminds me of that.
Quarterly Reports: The receiver must provide quarterly reports to Uncle Nearest, the lender, and the court. These reports need to detail how the receiver has spent money, including payments made for receivership activities and expenses for Uncle Nearest, the Subject Entities, and the Eady Road Property. The reports must also describe the receiver's overall activities and the financial and operational status of Uncle Nearest. The first report is due on October 1, 2025. This is called “save the date” because we will at long last have a look at what’s Real and what’s Fawn Real.
No Fiduciary Relationship: Nothing in this Order shall be construed such that the Receiver is considered to be in a fiduciary relationship with the Plaintiff, any of the Defendants, the Subject Entities, or all of them collectively.
IYKYK
The court has ordered-
“Appointment of Receiver: Phillip G. Young, Jr. of Thompson Burton, PLLC is hereby appointed as receiver (the “Receiver”) of Uncle Nearest2 (including the Subject Entities, as defined below) and the Receivership Assets (as defined below). The Receiver does not have any interest materially adverse to the receivership estate and the appointment of the Receiver is in the best interests of the receivership estate and its stakeholders.” This man is not a clown.
“ Each of the parties’ proposed candidates was well-qualified to serve as receiver in this case. The Court chose Mr. Young based on: (i) his extensive restructuring and bankruptcy experience, including regularly serving as a receiver and representing both debtors and creditors; (ii) his familiarity with relevant Tennessee and Sixth Circuit law as a practicing Tennessee attorney; (iii) his physical proximity to Uncle Nearest’s operations which will enable greater oversight with minimal additional costs; and (iv) Defendants’ representations as to Mr. Young’s intent to collaborate with Fawn and Keith Weaver to preserve customer goodwill while fulfilling the receivership’s objectives.” Fawn Weaver will likely spin this as a W since it was their pick. Receivers are charged with doing things by the book, and are not likely to fall under the spell of a master of flimflammery.
“The Receivership Assets: The “Assets” include (i) all of Uncle Nearest’s assets, including proceeds, wherever located, including but not limited to, all of Uncle Nearest’s: (a) right, title and interest in any property, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind and description, wherever situated, including, without limitation, the Nearest Green Distillery Real Property, property leased or occupied by Uncle Nearest, all rents, litigation claims, accounts receivable, computers, all media on which information is stored electronically, vehicles, equipment, inventory, furniture, furnishings, licenses, permits, books, records, documents and intellectual property; (b) rights (including rights to payment and distributions), title, and interest, whether now owned or hereafter acquired in, under and to any entity (including, but not limited to, Domaine D’Anatole, Inc., Domaine D’Anatole, S.A.S, UNAH, Inc., S1 Organic Vodka, LLC, UN House MV, LLC, Uncle Nearest Ventures, LLC, and the Nearest Green Historical Preservation & Culture Fund, including any rights of control, ownership, distribution, and participation (collectively, the “Subject Entities”)); (c) cash and any bank and brokerage accounts; (d) any other property in which the Lender is granted a security interest pursuant to the Security Agreement and/or UCC-1 financing statements recorded against Uncle Nearest in favor of the Lender; and (e) claims and causes of action of any type, whether in equity or in kind, in contract or pursuant to a promissory note or any other enforceable agreement, in litigation, via settlement, or pursuant to any form of insurance policy or coverage (collectively, “Causes of Action”); and (ii) the Eady Road Property, in each case, including proceeds therefrom.” In short, ALL OF IT, even the things you think we don’t know about. All of these are now under the control of the Receiver
Order Governs the Receivership Assets: It is the intent of the Court that this Order applies to all Receivership Assets and that this Order encompasses the receiver powers including but not limited to the power to sell receivership property. You don’t need a dude with a laptop to explain this to you.
Cooperation by Defendants: Uncle Nearest, the Subject Entities, and each of their officers, directors, partners, managers, agents, servants, employees, representatives, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with them who receive notice of this Order by personal service or otherwise, shall immediately deliver to the Receiver: (a) any and all Receivership Assets in the possession or under the control of any one or more of them; (b) all of Uncle Nearest’s past records, including, without limitation, accounting records, tax records, disbursements, banking records, and any other books and records for the period from July 22, 2022, through the date of this Order; (c) all of Uncle Nearest’s past records, including, without limitation, accounting records, disbursements, banking records, and any other books and records requested by the Receiver for periods beyond the period prescribed in (b) above; (d) copies of all material contracts to which Uncle Nearest is a party and all operating agreements and/or organizational documents, including corporate bylaws or similar governing documents, for Uncle Nearest and any Subject Entity; and (e) copies of any complaint filed against, or written demand or claim issued to, Uncle Nearest or any Subject Entity. The date July 2022 precedes the missing barrels, so they want to look at everything that led up to that. This is called painting a picture and the picture is probably that dude that splats paint on the floor.
The cats are out of the bag, and the house of cards is on FIRE. CEO- I know, let’s go hunt wabbits that can save us.
To the current employees of Uncle Nearest- Every one of us is thinking of you right now. We know what this all means to you and what you’re going through. While the Fat Cats’ partying and fronting grabs all of the attention, we think of you and your families trying to make it through another day.
UPDATE 8/22-
I’m working on some angles, and I’m sorry these are taking time. Please bear with me. Today we are going to tackle some things from the Q1 2025 investor report below, and it’s lengthy. Before that some questions and thoughts.
There is no $1.1 billion valuation from Forbes. The NY Times and Forbes reporting on the lawsuit are now referring to the $1.1 billion as “SELF-DECLARED VALUATION.” All of my research on the origins of this valuation came to two articles that referred to Forbes making the claim, but were merely mentions of it by reporters for Forbes, who apparently took Fawn’s words and printed it. It’s incredible to me that so many things that have been said about the SELF-DECLARED PEOPLES CEO were just made up and repeated without verification.
The still at the distillery doesn’t work. There are no pipes under the building. There is no adequate water/sewage infrastructure that could allow the still to operate. It’s a prop. A dummy. Investor/bank money went to this very expensive copper topped toy that couldn’t function if they wanted it to. The story of why it isn’t working has been changed repeatedly over time. First it was they didn’t have the water rights, then a surveyor fucked up (I’m guessing they couldn’t pin this on Senzaki the CFO), then they don’t have the power infrastructure, by the time the still was in place, it became the still wasn’t being used because it couldn’t meet the production demands. Any angel investor savior numbskull buying this dumpster fire would have to have capital left over from their fleecing to install pipes/power/water/sewage etc… and assorted other infrastructure improvements to make the thing push out one single drop. CLARIFICATION- The still COULD work with the infrastructure built out, my use of the word “prop” was not meant to imply it wasn’t a real still. It is, it just doesn’t work, and can’t as it sits.
The HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge was probably bunk. The concept was you would go to a bar/restaurant and order an Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned, scan a QR code, or the bar would tally it, or use the # with your picture of the drink, and $1 would go to the HBCU fund with a $1 million cap. This doesn’t pass the smell test. There was no infrastructure to track this information. Who reported this to UN? Did anyone collect this information and tally it up? Many of us have been to a bar on a Friday or Saturday night when it’s elbow to elbow and inevitably we’re standing next to someone with just a bit too much stink water on their necks. I’m expected to believe that if I go to the bartender who is inevitably in the weeds praying for a shot or canned beer order, and ask for an Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned, that they will collect my data and alert Uncle Nearest that they now owe a dollar to an HBCU? PLEASE. No one was collecting this information, and no one was tasked with collecting this information. Marketing ploy? Sure, and probably ok if the intention is to deliver that $1 million anyway. The question is, DID THEY? The whispers are that they did not, but these are whispers. I’m trying to find out.
With so much malarkey out there about this brand, I find it hard to trust literally anything about it anymore. I’m looking at everything. Every claim made isn’t a lie of course, but in my experience serial liars and narcissists will lie about the smallest and most insignificant things (like our whiskey doesn’t cause hangovers) so I was surprised that I found something that is in fact true. The Guinness Book of World Records actually does recognize the world’s longest bar as belonging to Uncle Nearest at their Humble Baron establishment. I wonder if Death & Co. got paid for designing it.
In their latest reporting Forbes was presented with financial data. Let’s break it down below.
Sixth man is a sportsball reference and in this case the investors are the sixth man. This is from the Q1 2025 investor deck.
Traveller, wow. Just wow and whyyyyyyyyyy?
Woodford Reserve not bad for a hot summers day.
I’m pretty sure they won 28 medals for this ranking. A world record probably.
I’ve asked where the money has gone. I’m still asking. Here’s a look at some of it, and it’s under the assumption that the documents created by Uncle Nearest, are factual.
1. Balance Sheet vs. Cash
• Assets of $188M don’t mean $188M was spent well. A huge portion sits in inventory ($67M+) and fixed assets ($77M+ land, buildings, equipment). Cash has collapsed to ~$2.5M projected — meaning most prior cash infusions were converted into things you can’t quickly turn back into cash.
• Liabilities of $135M show that a large part of spending was debt-funded, not generated from operations. Translation: They borrowed heavily, and much of that went into inventory build-up + property build-out instead of maintaining liquid runway.
2. Signs of Overspending
• Payroll growth: exploding from $2.5M → $12.2M annualized, even while cash is thin.
• Marketing growth: from $195K → $7.5M. That’s venture-scale marketing without venture-scale cash.
• Tourism build-up: projecting $3M revenues from tours, but that probably required tens of millions in visitor-center construction + promotion.
These don’t “lose” money so much as trap it in slow-return projects.
3. Phantom Revenues
• Counting “Square One Vodka” and “Premium Cognac” as if they’re active revenues obscures the fact that these lines may have already absorbed development, branding, or launch costs — without producing real sales yet.
• That’s money out the door with no near-term inflow.
4. Debt Service Spiral
• Interest expense is already $13M annualized. That’s money leaving every year just to service prior borrowing.
• If you track where the big holes are, debt service + capital expenditures + inventory lock-up = most of the “disappeared” cash.
5. What’s Missing in Disclosure
• No clear schedule of CapEx by project (how much was spent on land, buildings, plant upgrades, visitor center, etc.).
• No cash flow bridge over time (e.g., how did $X of equity + $Y of debt get allocated across operations, inventory, and CapEx).
• Without that, you can’t fully trace where the money went — you only see where it sits now.
Bottom Line
• The money didn’t vanish — it calcified into hard assets, inventory, and interest expense.
• The problem is that those assets don’t produce enough liquid return to service debt and fund operations.
• That’s why cash is nearly gone despite “assets” looking big.
• And yes — inflating revenues with products not for sale + overstated projections suggests they’re masking cash burn rather than explaining it.
1. Liquidity vs. Assets
• Assets reported: $188M
• Cash on hand: ~$12M (dropping to $2.5M projected).
• Majority of “assets” are tied up in inventory, receivables, and fixed assets — not liquid.
• If forced into liquidation, asset values would be heavily discounted → they’d still fall short of covering the $134M liabilities.
They present as “equity positive” but in reality are cash-starved and liquidity constrained.
2. Revenue Recognition Issues
• Square One Vodka ($10M projection) and Premium Cognac ($2.5M projection) are listed as revenue lines, but these products are not yet for sale.
• Under accounting standards, you can’t recognize revenues for products not sold — these should be future potential, not booked revenues.
This is misleading, bordering on misrepresentation.
3. Aggressive/Unrealistic Growth Assumptions
• Distillery Tours: $381K actual → $3M projected (8x increase). No clear operational plan to justify that scale of visitor growth.
• Marketing & Promotions: Jumps from $195K → $7.5M. That’s a 38x increase, outpacing revenue growth, with no guarantee of ROI.
• Payroll: Grows 5x ($2.5M → $12.2M). Indicates spending like a mature multinational, not a company with liquidity stress.
Growth assumptions appear inflated to show an “explosive expansion” story.
4. Interest & Debt Servicing
• Interest expense: Already $3M/quarter → projected to $13.7M annually.
• Debt burden ($105M+) remains massive.
• Operating cash flow isn’t sufficient to cover interest without new financing.
They look like they’re betting on future fundraising or refinancing rather than true operating sustainability.
5. Working Capital Pressure
• Accounts Receivable: $28.5M actual → $30M projected. Very high relative to revenue. Suggests cash collection issues — customers aren’t paying quickly.
• Inventory: $67M actual → $69M projected. Enormous amount locked in stock. If demand doesn’t materialize, that’s a stranded asset.
Liquidity trapped in AR + Inventory leaves little room to maneuver.
6. Equity Picture
• Reported “equity” of ~$53M → projected $66M.
• But this is book equity, not cash.
• Retained earnings show a massive accumulated deficit: -$83M improving to -$70M.
This suggests years of losses, propped up by paid-in capital, not operational profitability.
7. Cash Flow Mismatch
• Cash from operations = $9.2M in Q1 2025 (strong on paper).
• But most of that is driven by one-off “other inflows” ($8.5M).
Without that, operations would barely be breaking even.
Bottom Line
• Solvency risk is masked by inflated asset valuations.
• Liquidity is dangerously thin despite “big assets.”
• Revenue lines include products that don’t exist yet.
• Growth assumptions (tours, marketing, payroll) are overstated and unrealistic without concrete proof.
• Debt burden + interest is unsustainable on current cash generation.
• Equity cushion is accounting smoke, not real safety.
This paints a picture of a company that is over-leveraged, under-liquid, and dressing up projections to look like explosive growth — while actually facing serious short-term cash strain.
ALSO about those $21 in missing barrels:
1. Balance Sheet Implications
• If barrels worth $21M are missing, then either:
◦ They were included in “Inventory” ($67M+) but aren’t physically there, which means the asset line is overstated by $21M,
◦ Or they’ve already been written off quietly, which would’ve burned through more equity/cash than is visible.
Either way: the $188M “assets” number is misleading if it still counts those barrels.
2. Cash Flow Implications
• If those barrels were financed (via loans, vendor credit, or cash), then money has already been spent — but the value they’re supposed to represent no longer exists.
• That means: the hole is deeper than the balance sheet suggests. Instead of being $55M short of covering debt, it could be closer to $75–80M.
3. Operational / Governance Signal
• Barrels don’t just “go missing” — that’s either:
◦ Poor controls (leakage, theft, miscounts),
◦ Or strategic obfuscation (claiming they exist for collateral or valuation purposes).
• Either explanation undermines the credibility of the entire financial snapshot.
Bottom Line (with barrels included)
• The gap isn’t $55M — it’s worse, likely in the $75M+ range once you strip out missing inventory.
• It explains even less about “where the money went,” because part of it literally went into product that can’t be accounted for.
• That loss compounds the liquidity crisis: not only is cash near-zero, but the asset base backing the loans is shaky.
Lastly, it looks like she built image, when she could have built infrastructure.
Accountant cat is having a severe case of the WTF’s.
UPDATE 8/21-
Before we begin with the frequent updates for today, there’s something I want to say. I promise there will be updates and I’ll get to them shortly. Yes, the motion to compel mediation was denied. And you can read it below., but first.
When I started writing the first piece on the lawsuit, I had intended to lay a foundation of what was happening, so I could then tell the story I still haven’t been able to write.
The story I had intended to write, was about the people that were impacted, and have suffered by coming into contact with Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest (sad that the two are now forever inextricably connected).
This story, and my writing about it, has taken on a life of its own. I’m no longer the captain of a ship trying to make my way to port. I’m adrift in the ocean, being taken where the winds and currents of this story direct me.
I hate that I’ve fallen into this space, I’m not a full-time reporter, I’m a hobbyist at best.
I feel a responsibility to those folks that have shared some incredibly heartbreaking experiences.
These stories include abuse, being taken advantage of, wicked people perpetrating wicked acts on unsuspecting people that believed so deeply in a thing greater than themselves.
Some invested their own money. Some invested their labor. All gave more because they believed! All have invested their heart into something bigger than themselves at great cost to their financial, emotional, and mental health. Many have had to go through therapy to repair damage to themselves and their relationships, some have had extreme medical episodes and in one case, tragically, a loss of life.
I would like to write these stories but this isn’t the time, nor is it my place. What they went through and experienced are stories that belong to them and are theirs alone to tell when they are ready. These people have been incredibly generous with their time, and these conversations have given me ideas on where to look.
I will continue to try to shed light on the disturbing things going on at Uncle Nearest, and the leadership that built it, owns it and runs it.
The people I’ve spoken with feel they have been wronged by the Weaver’s/Uncle Nearest. Every single one of them are still dealing with the ramifications of their having crossed paths with the Weavers’s.
Most have been resilient enough to get through it, but none have emerged unscathed.
Thank you for reading,
- Mickey Pinstripe
The denial for mediation is below.
Stress? What’s that? Titanic cat was built for this. Titanic cat also designed a new hover life boat, would you like to invest?
The motion to compel mediation has been denied. Here are the details from the court documents. A reminder that my thoughts are italicized.
“On 8/7 the Court held a hearing on Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion for the Immediate Appointment of Receiver. At this hearing, Defendants’ counsel orally requested that the Court order the parties to mediate. The Court declined to entertain this request.” Told them once… this is known as foreshadowing.
“A little more than a week later, and specifically after the Court issued its Memorandum Opinion and Order grating Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion, Defendants filed the instant Motion to Compel Mediation.”
“Defendants represent that “Uncle Nearest, together with a group of high net-worth and well-funded investors represented by Holland & Knight LLP (the ‘Investor Group’), have made multiple, good faith attempts over the last month to pursue a commercial resolution of the claims in this case, including repeated requests to Plaintiff that the Parties ad the Investor Group participate in mediation.” I wonder if we will ever know who these high net-worth fat cats are.
“They further represent that while Plaintiff has previously expressed some interest in mediation, the parties have been unable to agree to mediate this case.” You own me money. Pay me. No. Fine.
“Finally, Defendants assert that ordering the parties to mediate at this time—and particularly before the appointment of a receiver—would protect the parties’ interests and conserve judicial resources.”
“Plaintiff opposes Defendants’ Motion, arguing that mediation would be premature, impose unnecessary expense, and distract from selection of a receiver. Plaintiff further notes that it knows little about the Investor Group, including whether it “has the resources or willingness to consummate a transaction” to Plaintiff’s satisfaction. Finally, Plaintiff is concerned that mediation discussions would not be kept confidential given that Defendant Fawn Weaver has publicly discussed and alluded to this case and the issues herein despite the parties’ Agreed Order. “ Gag orders only work if you wear the gag up over your nose. Didn’t we all learn this with masking during Covid?
“The Court finds Plaintiff has the better argument. In particular, the Court agrees with Plaintiff that the parties should be focused on the impending selection of a receiver rather than mediation. As the Court discussed when granting Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion, a receivership is necessary to protect Plaintiff’s interests given the circumstances underlying this case.”
“Every day a receiver is not appointed is another day Plaintiff is being denied relief it has already demonstrated an entitlement to. Furthermore, Plaintiff’s opposition to Defendants’ Motion seriously calls the utility of a court-ordered mediation into question.”
The judge references “‘The court cannot require any party to settle a case,’ Lockhart v. Patel, and it does not appear that Plaintiff is open to settling its dispute with Defendants, at least at this time.”
“Consequently, a court-ordered mediation would likely have little more effect than delaying the appointment of a receiver.” Delay IS the point.
“For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Motion is DENIED” Note that all-caps and bold is on the document. And also, now they’ve been told twice.
ADDENDUM-
“1 The Court finds it troubling Mrs. Weaver has publicly discussed matters arguably covered by the Agreed Order, [see Doc. 29 at ¶ 2], and even gone so far as to make light of her obligations under it. See Fawn Weaver (@Fawn.Weaver), Instagram (Aug. 15, 2025), https://www.instagram.com/fawn.weaver/reel/DNYqTLNJW8S/; Fawn Weaver (@Fawn.Weaver), Instagram (Aug. 17, 2025), https://www.instagram.com/fawn.weaver/reel/DNb1WkIs-Q0/. Nevertheless, the Court presumes Mrs. Weaver did not intend to engage in any potentially proscribed conduct and will take no further action at this time. That said, the Court will recommend that Mrs. Weaver confer with counsel prior to making future public statements to ensure that her conduct does not run afoul of the Agreed Order.” I don’t know why, but I’m reminded of a scene in the original Top Gun where it’s said that “The Russians don't take a dump son, without a plan.”
The Surgeon General warns that busses are harmful to CFO cat’s and should be avoided at all times. Also, how does a “fraud” get discovered, but you don’t run that bus over CFO cat until 20 months later?
UPDATE 8/20 #2-
Unpaid taxes don’t mean anything. Unless they do.
I got a lot of problems, unpaid taxes aren’t one of them. Also, does this look like the tax bill of a billion dollar company?
UPDATE 8/20-
Court today. Could be news, could not be news. In the meantime hello to the LSA folks.
The Business License for Nearest Green Distillery has been revoked due to delinquent filing of the annual business report which was due 6/10/25. Prior to that, there were no delinquencies.
The Business License for Uncle Nearest Inc. has been revoked due to delinquent filing of the annual business report which was due 6/10/25. Prior to that, there were no delinquencies.
The Business License for the Humble Baron has been revoked due to delinquent filing of the annual business report which was due 6/10/25. Prior to that, there were no delinquencies.
The Business License for Shelbyville Grand LLC (Keith Weaver) has been revoked due to delinquent filing of the annual business report which was due 6/10/25. This is their second delinquency, the first being in 2022.
The Business License for Nearest Green Historical Preservation & Culture Fund has been revoked due to delinquent filing of the annual business report which was due 6/10/25. This is their second delinquency, the first being in 2019.
There is one that they updated only slightly not on-time, in July 2025. Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings LLC. It was marked delinquent the same date 6/10/25 as all of the others, but this one they submitted for.
With all these delinquencies maybe the bank was on to something about their lack of timely reporting. Look at me defending a bank? What is wrong with me? Who am I anymore?
Tennessee uses annual reports to verify TAXES. The information in these filings is used by TDR to verify tax obligations. Businesses are required to report their GROSS receipts and other financial details, which are crucial for tax assessments.
You may be asking why this is important. I was too. Listen, I’m not a tax person (don’t worry I pay mine) so I have no expert insights to offer here, but what I’ve gathered is that while the case is about loans unpaid, the company is likely going to be buried by taxes. Do they report the insane sales numbers they claim and pay TAXES on those claims to save face? Or do they post the actual numbers to reduce their tax burden? Well, they don’t have the money to pay the loans, or their contractors (who mostly only accept cash due to their delayed payments and declined cards), so where is the scratch for taxes going to be found? Under the couch cushions? If they lied about the sales numbers this year, they’re porked. If they’re telling the truth, they’re porked anyway, and lose face about the claims made. Do they even have to pay taxes if they aren’t profitable? Do I need to call HR Block?
A likely result of receivership is a forensic accounting. With so many LLC’s in so many places, it’s going to take a team to crack this apart and see where all that investor money went.
While the CEO quotes proverbs, the bank sits at the Tipsy Cat Bar, opting to not interrupt their enemy while they continually step on rakes. .
UPDATE 8/19-
While we all wait for more information out of the courts on 8/20, here are some other things that are related.
A federal judge has ruled that sex discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims brought by former employee Garcelle N. Menos against Uncle Nearest, Inc., and its co-founder and CEO, Fawn Weaver, will proceed to a jury trial. You can read this complaint here.
The accused harasser was allegedly known to employees as handsy, frequently and relentlessly inappropriate, a messy drunk, and a lout. It is alleged that he was not terminated because he knows where a body or two might be buried. Unsurprisingly Fawn comes off in her response to the plaintiff as callous, lacking empathy, and annoyed by her having secured legal representation. You know, caring boss things. Do you know why people secure legal representation? Usually because they fear they have no other recourse. Question for the audience, what $1 billion company doesn’t have an HR department? Uncle Nearest of course. Also, not really a $1b company that we can tell outside of them claiming it and Forbes saying it before all of this legal stuff.
Random Thoughts-
I’m struck by the contrast in the legal filings between the parties. The banks lawyers seem to have a very good grasp on how things work in court, and the Weaver’s filings have been, soft, amateurish, and silly. The public persona that the Weaver’s are keeping, portray a power couple playing 4d chess, but their court performance leans more towards Candyland. There is so much “trust me bro” going on that it’s now at the point where it has become foolish to trust what they say, and everything they’ve said.
I’m questioning if Forbes ever did provide a valuation of $1 billion or if it was simply self-declared. So far all links in articles that I’ve explored that are referencing this claim refer back to one or two articles and there’s no source for the actual valuation claim that I can find other than “Forbes said so.” If I can find the original source, and I am exploring this, I will update this segment.
I’ve got questions about the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge.
Are there any pipes under the still? Will it ever produce a single drop?
Did the UN Venture Fund actually help any small businesses?
Is Senzaki really at fault or was he doing what he was directed to do?
Does RNDC really have a backlog of UN inventory, and is the goal of operation #cleartheshelves a ploy to move that inventory and get the distributor to buy more? The bottles on shelves are rather meaningless, as that money has already been paid to UN. Getting stores to clear out inventory, and having them clear out existing distributor inventory, and having the distributor ORDER more is what’s important.
Are there really a bunch of new sucker investors that won’t do their due diligence and at least look at the court documents?
They claim to have never taken VC money but in my research a few of their early investors were in fact VC’s. Altrus Capital, East Chop Capital, Hybridge Capital Management, Strand Equity, CB3 Holdings. Note that Strand Equity no longer includes UN on their portfolio page.
If they’re having trouble paying their loans, what about TAXES? Capone went down for that.
For my next trick watch me pull a new group of made up investors out of my hat.
UPDATE 8/18-
The bank filed their objection to mediation. Here’s their stuff.
The plaintiff, Farm Credit Mid-America objects to the motion to compel mediation.
They feel the parties should be focused on the selection of a receiver. I mean, the judge did order exactly this for 8/20.
They reiterate that the Court has found the appointment of a receiver as necessary to protect their interests.
They remind the court that the decision wasn’t taken lightly.
They suggest that UN should be focused on the selection of a receiver. I mean, when has UN acted on suggestions? Don't blink or something something.
They claim that UN is attempting to delay receivership by this request. Delay, deflect, deny, distract.. anything to avoid accountability or responsibility for literally anything.
The bank claims that UN failed to disclose that they’ve been negotiating for the last 18 months without resolution.
Not until last week was counsel for the purported group of high net-worth investors identified, and UN has still not disclosed to the bank the members of this newly formed “investor group.” Banks don’t take flimflammery seriously. Nor should anyone else really, but there are suckers, and then there are suckers.
The terms of their latest settlement offer are unclear, and due to all the other distracting and unsupported communications, the bank is requesting that all future offers be in writing and signed by all involved parties. The bank essentially said no more smoke and mirrors plz, k-thx-bye.
Uncle Nearest has admitted that its solvency is questionable. Uncle Nearest does not have the financial wherewithal to fund any sort of settlement. They’d need years of #cleartheshelves probably.
The bank suggests any mediation discussions will likely not be kept confidential. Despite the court order, the CEO (Fawn Weaver) continues to make comments about the litigation and the company’s strategy and is encouraging others to do the same. She has publicly invited others to reach out to her privately so she can further discuss the litigation. Proverbs 86:47- Whoever talks first, last and loudest is often lying, PRETTY sure that’s in some bible that exists only in my head. That the bank submitted links to Fawn Weaver’s IG reels, is pure solid gold.
It doesn’t take a haggard one-eyed street cat that’s smoking cigarettes to know that this company is poorly run.
UPDATE 8/17 Part 2-
The Weavers filed a motion to compel a confidential mediation prior to receivership emplacement. Radical transparency my left foot.
This motion was meant to bring the bank to the table to discuss the manner of a new investor group taking on the debt.
The investors group is being represented by Holland & Knight LLP.
The unnamed investors are a group of “high net-worth and well-funded investors.” Also, high-falutin’, fat cats, titans of industry, and straight up ballers, probably.
The goal of the mediation is to work toward a commercial resolution to the litigation.
The Bank has expressed a willingness to mediate.
The mediator recommend by the defendants is on the court approved list of mediators.
The judge has NOT yet granted this motion, with the order that ALL individuals with binding settlement authority attend the mediation IN -PERSON. Including the new investor group and/or its representatives. (this means Fawn can’t sell whiskey, or call in sick, or send her husband to take his lumps for her).
Spinning a mediation as your master plan can cause headaches in cigarette smoking cats.
UPDATE 8/17-
Here are some interesting background things from the Receivership hearing. I have the court documents. Wheeeeeee!
The cumulative result of these documents is that Farm Credit holds a security interest in almost all of Uncle Nearest’s property.
On July 26, 2023, the Credit Agreement was amended for the sixth time. This amendment, unlike those that preceded it, stated that Uncle Nearest had committed multiple “Events of Default.” Farm Credit nevertheless agreed to waive these Events of Default and further increase Uncle Nearest’s revolving loan limit to $67 million “in reliance upon Uncle Nearest’s representations as to its success and strategic growth.”
On December 23, 2023, Farm Credit waived additional Events of Default in the parties’ seventh amendment to the Credit Agreement. But while Farm Credit was willing to waive these Events of Default, it was not willing to let Uncle Nearest avoid additional scrutiny.
The parties then engaged in a series of negotiations that ultimately resulted in an April 15, 2025, Forbearance Agreement. Under the Forbearance Agreement’s terms, the parties agreed there were multiple outstanding Events of Default, but Farm Credit promised not to exercise its contractual rights relating to these defaults for the duration of the “Forbearance Period” provided that certain conditions were met. Importantly, the Forbearance Period automatically terminated on the occurrence of a new Event of Default.
Shortly after the parties executed the Forbearance Agreement, Uncle Nearest began triggering new Events of Default by, among other things, failing to make multiple loan payments, including a $10 million paydown. As a result, Farm Credit filed suit, seeking to recover the more than $108 million Uncle Nearest owes in outstanding loans. This is some masterclass of business acumen. Negotiate a forbearance period, and then default AGAIN?
The Court will begin its analysis by looking to Uncle Nearest’s solvency and whether there is adequate security for Farm Credit’s loans as these are “the most important factors in evaluating whether to appoint a receiver.” . Starting with solvency, the Court directly asked Defendants’ counsel whether Uncle Nearest was solvent.. And although counsel was unable to definitively answer this question, he indicated that Uncle Nearest’s solvency was in question and that the business is experiencing cash flow problems.
Turning to whether there is adequate security for Farm Credit’s loans, the Court finds there is not. The lack of certainty surrounding Uncle Nearest’s solvency itself supports the conclusion there is not adequate security.
It is undisputed that Uncle Nearest’s revolving loan was increased by $24 million because of Senzaki’s misrepresentations concerning Uncle Nearest’s barrel inventory. Given that this $24 million was supposed to be secured by the illusory whiskey barrels, that these barrels do not exist strongly suggests that the loans are not adequately secured, particularly where almost all of Uncle Nearest’s other assets are already encumbered. Accordingly, this factor weighs in favor of a receivership.
Tarks bar, It’s where you go to wash the taste of bullshit out of your mouth.
UPDATE 8/16-
Fawn Weaver has posted another propaganda piece. No, I will not blindly quote it, you can watch it your damnself.
She acknowledges that she’s under a gag order, but knows she can make some points anyway. 2 points, she wants shared “since lies spread faster than truth.” Lies, always about everyone lying. Someone is lying, but not everyone. Probably some ONE.
What are those points?
1- “Keep clearing the shelves.” She spends a ton of time talking about sales figures that are frankly unverifiable. I’m not saying the sales percentage growth is not true, what I’m saying is that without documentation, you can say that you sold eleventy-million bottles all you want. Which, is part of why we’re here. If I sell 10 bottles last month, and 20 this month, that’s a 100% increase!! Share the cases moved, percentages are meaningless without that. Going through the list of states and showing the increase in percentages is fluff.
2- “Don’t believe the fake news. Some reports claimed she no longer owns/runs the company.” No, I’m sorry, no one is saying she doesn’t OWN the company. They are saying that a receivership would remove her from management of the company. Using the “fake news” nonsense to deflect things that are ACTUALLY happening is utterly stupid, and utterly effective if you read the comments on her socials. We are fully in propaganda saturated territory here.
She plugs her book. She keeps saying god built her for this etc.. on and on. She may in fact end up keeping the company and making it the grand success she claims it is, but it’s ALL about her. Did you know you can order her book off of the Uncle Nearest website? Yeah, I’m not linking that either.
The Drunken Whiskers is where you go when your quota for swallowing bullshit has reached max capacity (unlike a certain still that still isn’t doing anything).
UPDATE 8/14-
On 8/14 the Judge overseeing the lawsuit set the date of 8/20 for both parties to submit their receivership recommendations.
An email was obtained (I have not seen the email, but if you have a copy, send it along) with the Weaver’s addressing their investors. You can read the original reporting here.
The email states that “Both the bank, and the financial advisors working with them, as well as the restructuring company engaged on our side, spent the past three months urging us to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.” Sounds like everyone thinks Chapter 11 is a good idea.
The Weavers continued, “While that approach might have been more straightforward for us personally, and would allowed us to control the narrative in the press, we chose instead to risk receivership. A Chapter 11 might have benefitted us, but it would not have benefitted you.” Oh, apparently there’s a better idea against all advice and only one person can save us. Sounds oddly familiar.
The Weavers instead rejected the recommendations, and are now focused on putting together investors to purchase the loan from the bank, which she said has not been willing to “come to the table.” Other than finally resorting to a lawsuit, yeah the bank isn’t keen on another new razzle dazzle. Wait what? NEW INVESTORS? The current ones are probably nervously chewing their own fingers off, and I know, let’s get more investors!
They continue with “The judge was not aware of this when the ruling came down, but we will update him in the coming days, before he makes a final ruling on the 20th.” Fawn Weaver said she would be meeting with new investors on purchasing the loan. “We will continue working to move this loan from the current bank to a new note holder” she said. How was the judge not made aware of this new dazzling information, when the opportunity was there to make it known? Oh right, selling whiskey, couldn’t attend, had to wash hair my mom took my keys dog ate my homework…. also, really? Who would throw cash money at this giant hole in the ground?