Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here. The ABV of the bourbon varies between 55% and 60%. In late 2018, Belle Meade wanted to create a bourbon that would slot neatly between their Sour Mash Bourbon (90.4 Proof) and all of the single barrels they were releasing. Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where youll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. Bottle shape, color palette, and art seem fairly standard. The Rich Aroma of Hennessy VSOP: A Premium Cognac for All Occasions. Start by getting 25 points by subscribing to our newsletters to receive special offers and information about new arrivals, future events and specials. No, Belle Meade Reserve has a consistent quality and alcohol content per batch, making it different from cask strength. You must be of legal drinking age to enter this site. The flavor is well-rounded and complex, with notes of sweet vanilla, oak, and spice. Yes, bourbon appreciates in value over time. The barrels used are 7-11 years old. 2022 Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon is a fantastic, traditional tasting pour. Want to enjoy Distiller ad-free? Finish still fast and snappy, but much less heat. You might say that old butcher had some idea of what the boys were in for. Product Details Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion Series /Photo Credit: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Like its age statement, Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon does not also disclose its mash bill. Sour mash bourbon has a distinctively different flavor than other types of bourbon, and it is often considered to be smoother and more mellow. Have anything worth reading and writing about it, then why not send us an email to give us more details. It's a little pricey for the category at $35, though, where you can find gems like 1792 or ( VOB if you're lucky enough to live where it's sold) for under $30. Charlie and Andy had heard stories about a distiller in the family's past but they were never sure it was more than a glorified moonshine operation. Whiskey is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak. Required fields are marked *, I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *. It took years of research and planning, not to mention putting up everything they had just to get their first product to market. If you're looking for a smooth Bourbon that is sure to please, look no further than Belle Meade Reserve. Very bright. Required fields are marked *. Andy & Charlie Nelson launched Nelson Brothers Whiskey with the same exacting standards of their great-great-great grandfather, who founded the family distillery in 1860. Heres what it says about this whiskey: To ensure that no other Bourbon in the world tastes likeBelleMeadeBourbon, we created a proprietary blend using two different high-rye content mash bills and two complementary yeast strains from barrels aged between 6 to 8 years. Typically, the finishing period will be around 18 months before bottling. What drives us into doing what we do? Since then, the brothers started planning to resurrect the family business. It might have been one of those idiosyncratic things because most of the other tasters seemed to like it. However, the bourbon sitting before me is a bit different than the original, which is coming sometime in the futureafter more aging. The Belle Meade Bourbon label is almost exactly the same as it was more than 100 years ago. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Quick Stats Interesting Facts Origin & History This is the kind of thing I like to cover. Bourbon must be distilled at no more than 160 proof, or 80% alcohol by volume. Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels for at least two years. But some whiskey enthusiasts settle down on the 64% corn, 30% rye, and 6% malted barley. The high-rye blend of Belle Meade was designed to make it a versatile Bourbon. Furthermore, the bourbon is on the older side, generally between 9-12 years of age making them worth checking out. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. To get the ball rolling, as many new distilleries must, they purchased bourbon (note: not Tennessee Whiskey) from Midwest Grain Products (MGP, formerly known as LDI), and bottled it under the Belle Meade label, one of Charles Nelsons original brands. Belle Meade Bourbon was the toast of the town when it hit the market in 1878 and became known as a great value and top quality product. Fortified, "cooked," and aged in time-honored tradition, Malmsey Island Madeira is renowned for its rich, sweet, honeyed flavor. 2 talking about this. Belle Meade is a product of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, which sources its whiskey from MGP in Indiana. What they ended up creating was Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve; a blend of seven barrels aged 7 to 11 years old. Enjoy the warmth and exceptional smoothness of this blend of non-chill-filtered, 90.4-proof, 7- to 10-year-old bourbons . Irelands Boann Distillery recently marked Limestone Branch Distillery recently announced Something went wrong. Just like Belle Meade, the Old Forester distillery already existed before Prohibition. Since Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon has 108.3 proof, dropping a couple of ice would tone down its dark and strong flavors. The first product they launched is Belle Meade Bourbon, a label used by Nelsons before it stopped operating in the early 1900s. Although it is more expensive than most bourbon brands, it is still a great deal if you can manage to find one. Your email address will not be published. They decided to produce a bourbon, well-aged and with unique character, by sourcing whiskey from another distiller. ABV: ~49% Fades with cherry, blanched almonds, and a bunch of baking spices, including cinnamon. Your email address will not be published. For 24 Days we'll reveal a new one of our favorite reviewed spirits from 2016, Paso Robles Spirits in the Heart of Wine Country, Meet the distillers making the most of wine country, Redwood Empire: The Rise of California Whiskey, Meet the distillery taking inspiration from its home on the Northern California coast, To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit, Sign up for the Distiller Newsletter for new bottle & feature updates. By 1885, the originalNelsons Green Brier Distillery produced 380,000 gallons of the stuff annually, and distributed from Paris to San Francisco. It was fast, accurate, and I am able to get bourbon that is hard for me to find in my state! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This bourbon is under the name of Nelsons Green Brier Distillery, but its production process took place in a different distillery. Belle Meade Reserve is the premium expression of the multi-award-winning Belle Meade Bourbon, crafted to meet the growing demand among aficionados for elite, high-proof bourbon.. Our distillers identify certain superior barrels from the Belle Meade inventory and combine them into separate batches that yield a richer, more robust, higher-proof bourbon that compounds and enhances the character . As the whiskey spreads across the tongue, it builds in spiciness and intensity, with an overall flavor profile that includes apricot, cinnamon spice, and pepper. Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon. Light Beer, Big Taste: Miller Genuine Draft 64, Savor the Taste of Rancho La Glorias Agave Wine Margaritas. You will enjoy the creamy caramel and spice hints that travel with an oakey cool warmth from toe to head. No, bourbon does not have sugar. Whether you're sipping it neat or mixing it into your favorite cocktail, Belle Meade Reserve is sure to impress. AVAILABILITY: This product is out of stock, Collect points and redeem them for coupons. The result is a smooth, flavorful bourbon that can be enjoyed on its own or used in cocktails. Some of the descendants of this bloodline include Seabiscuit, War Admiral, Man O War, Secretariat, California Chrome, American Pharaoh, and Nyquist to name just a few. Belle Meade is the first release from Nelson's Green Brier after the distillery went silent for Prohibition. Community Rating: 3.91 out of 5 stars (93 Ratings)*, *Tasting note and Community Rating for Fusion Series #4. The palate is a bit thin and flavor more contained, with some cereal notes, and light caramel sweetness. Unfortunately, it won't be available to national markets anymore. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. While I like it, not sure I like it at $40. By using this website, you agree to thePrivacy NoticeandTerms and Conditionsof use. After sipping from the spring they headed back to the butcher who referred them to the nearby Greenbrier Historical Society. It comes off a tad hot on the nose considering the proof. For those who don't know, what makes Belle Meade's Honey Cask so desirable is that they were the first to really perfect the process of taking a barrel that had stored honey in it and finishing (MGP) bourbon it. ABV: 53% Average Price: Distillery Lottery Only ( available on the secondary market) The Whiskey: This whiskey starts off by seasoning used whiskey barrels (from Nelson's Green Brier's warehouse). The next step was not adding the bourbon back in because honey . The distillation process removes the gluten proteins from the grain, making it safe for people with celiac disease. has only been making whiskey since 2016, it has made quite the splash in the spirits industry. Please enjoy responsibly. Recently, the news of halting the production of Belle Meade bourbons became a hot topic among the whiskey community. Is Belle Meade Reserve the same as cask strength? Theres no limit to your happy hour! The bourbon is sourced from MGP Distillery and each batch averages around 1,000 bottles. Were proud to resurrect the remarkable 1860 family recipe that made Tennessee Whiskey world famous, with the first bottling since 1909. At $40, it was an easy bottle to pick up. This blended bourbon, both vigorous and versatile, not only meets those standardsit surpasses them. Simplicity is the name of the game here. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The company states that Belle Meade Bourbon uses a proprietary blend of differing mash bills and yeast strains and is a high rye blend of barrels averaging in age from 6-8 years.. Still, I can't be sad about MGP high-rye bourbon at 6 years of age. In the historic Ice House, learn to savor bourbon neat and delve into bourbon's intriguing history. He is also familiar mixology and an experienced sommelier. We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value. Avg US Price: $172 True bourbonthat is, bourbon with no flavorings or sweetenercontains virtually no sugar. Full Guide (2023), Salted Caramel Crown Royal Recipes (2023 Updated), 15 Simple Mixed Drinks To Order At A Bar Today (2023), Purple Gatorade Shot Recipe: How To Make It (2023 Updated), What To Mix With Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon? To learn more, visitResponsibility.org. The bourbon being reviewed is bottle #1116. A Sweet and Refreshing Review of Riunite Peach Moscato, The Legend of Copper Lager from Jacks Abby Brewing, The Sweet and Nutty Taste of Crme dAmande, The Rich, Malty Flavor of (512) Pecan Porter, The Flavor of Sagres Preta: Portugals Iconic Dark Lager, Yellowstone and Coors Banquet: A Perfect Pair. However, everything whiskey related in Tennessee would come to a screeching halt when the state became an early adopter of Prohibition in 1909. Whether youre throwing a huge house party or a laidback social gathering, people will want to have a drink or two. The bourbon is sourced from MGP Distillery and each batch averages around 1,000 bottles. Theyve also had some whiskey distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC) as contract distilling rather than sourcing which means they provide the specifics of the mash bill and how they want the whiskey made rather than buying stocks. Community Rating: 4.29 out of 5 stars (92 Ratings)*, *Tasting note and Community Rating for Discovery Series #4. 750ml bottle, Total Wine, San Jose, CA, $35, Cocktails: Part One. While visiting a butcher in Greenbrier, Tennessee, brothers Andy and Charles Nelson noticed a historical marker about a distillery bearing their name. 2023Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon is a fantastic, traditional tasting pour. He is also BJCP Certified Beer Judge. Id be just as likely to pick up a bottle of Wild Turkey 101, since it has a flavor profile that is in the same ballpark. But the product info and the references toBelleMeadePlantation and Nelsons Green Brier Distillery give this whiskey a unique kind of intrigue. As the whiskey spreads across the tongue, it builds in spiciness and intensity, with an overall flavor profile that includes apricot, cinnamon spice, and pepper. Enjoy neat, with a splash of water, or in a bold cocktail. Charlie and Andy Nelson discovered the site of their great-great-great grandfather's distillery during a family trip and decided to start up the family business again. They also have a thoroughbred racehorse in their stable: the Reserve. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov. The distillery closed its doors at the advent of Prohibition in 1909. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. These barrels impart a unique flavor to the bourbon, and they also contribute to the color of the finished product. TheBelleMeadewebsite deserves praise for giving a lot of information on the process. |Please drink responsibly. The high-rye blend of Belle Meade was designed to make it a versatile Bourbon. As the drink rests in the glass, that brown sugar aroma intensifies, and it picks up additional rye spice notes, like mace and cacao. It was there that the brothers first set eyes upon original whiskey bottles bearing the family name. Thomas Ashford is a highly educated brewer with years of experience in the industry. However, the oak barrels used are said to be seven to eleven years old, or even older sometimes. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. has released several limited edition bourbons with unique barrel finishes in its Collaborative Series. Its the passion for quality beer and not only beer. About Embark on a captivating journey with Belle Meade Bourbon. It has a sweet nose with notes of orange, vanilla, and cinnamon. We can't promise that everything we get will be on the top page Can Can Awards, but we can assure you that we'll read all emails. But BBCo. The texture is buttery and overall fairly smooth, though for me the amount of heat in this whiskey is a bit more than what Im normally looking for. Tennessees prohibition law shut it all down by 1909, and its wasnt until 2006 that Charles Nelsons great-great-great-great-great-great (actually only great-great-great) grandsons were inspired to get operation fired back up after running into people who knew that story. For the price you can do better, but if you are looking for a high rye with some bite, versatility, and a good story, its a reasonable choice. Then, it will develop into a cherry or red apple taste. Drink Belle Meade Bourbon. In 2009 they formed the business, and in 2015 they opened distilling operations in Nashville. Yes, Belle Meade Bourbon is gluten free. 3.79 out of 5 stars. Bourbon has a sweeter flavor than other types of whiskey due to the high content of sugar in the corn used to make it. Charlie says to this day that it was a moment of clarity unlike any he has ever known. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Our Privacy Notice and Terms & Conditions have changed. The two brands are almost in the same price range whereas the Old Forester 1920 is around $65 (Drizly). It is one of the most affordable single barrels on the market, but it is also one of the best. By using this website, you agree to the Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions of use. Running low on fuel, they pulled over for a fill-up and noticed a historical marker detailing the once-influential Nelson's Green Brier Distillery run by Charles Nelson. . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Bourbon is matured in American oak casks for approximately seven to eiht years on land, before the casks are placed on a ship and allowed to rest for another five to ten months at sea. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To ensure that no other Bourbon in the world tastes like Belle Meade Bourbon, we created a proprietary blend using different high-rye content mash bills and complementary yeast strains. He has a Bachelor Degree in Chemistry and a Master Degree in Brewing Science. The Whiskey Wash, while appreciative of this, keeps full independent editorial control over this article. Bourbon | From $60 | 45-60 minutes. History. You would want to taste all the unique blends and tastes developed through the aging process. TASTING NOTES Nose: Maple syrup and caramel with floral fragrances and a citrus zest. The decision to bring back the family business, once an industry giant, was made then and there in the hearts of the two young men. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". We at nelson's green brier distillery are proud to reintroduce the world to belle meade bourbon a brand our triple great grandfather brought to market more than 100 years ago. The alcohol content of this bourbon is higher than a typical Kentucky bourbon, with 54.15% ABV. After spending some time with it and looking closer, I was a bit underwhelmed. The Refreshing ABV of Vienna Lager: A Delicious Experience! Bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn, and it must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. It would still be available around Tennessee. They were headed to a butcher shop in Greenbrier, Tennessee, just north of their home town of Nashville to pick up their share of a butchered cow. In the end, the brothers bought high-rye bourbons from MGP Ingredients in Indiana [2]. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. cause it's one of the most fun songs we've recorded. Lets see what $35 worth of MGP gets us: Nose: Oak-heavy, with strong astringent woody notes, cherry juice, cherry cough syrup, cloves, and dark brown sugar. Some of these partners include The Prisoner Wine Co.; Phifer Pavitt Wine; and Chteau de Laubade Armagnac among others. Each batch of our well-aged proprietary blend creates the signature flavor profile that makes Belle Meade Bourbon the award-winning Bourbon of choice for the discerning whiskey drinker. Sour mash bourbon is a type of bourbon whiskey that is made by adding a portion of still-fermenting mash to the new batch of spirits. This bourbon has a reddish amber appearance. Its a little pricey for the category at $35, though, where you can find gems like 1792 or (VOB if youre lucky enough to live where its sold) for under $30. Nelson Brothers. Please check your entries and try again. Given the current environment with the global pandemic, business plans for many companies are up in the air. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks or as a perfect addition to coffee or even ice cream.