Belle Meade Bourbon

Two of the great-great-great grandsons of distiller Charles Nelson recently resurrected the Nelson's Green Brier Distillery with the release of Belle Meade Bourbon. Originally located in Green Brier TN, it was one of the largest pre-prohibition whiskey producers of its time. On November 23, 2014, the new Nelson's Green Brier Distillery (now located in Nashville) opened to the public.

Details:
High Rye Mashbill with 4 hand-selected barrels per batch
Aged To Perfection (Andy Nelson stated in a video that each barrel is 6-8 years old) 
90.4 proof

Color: Honey amber

Nose: Caramel candy squares and vanilla are the heavy hitters on the nose. A light floral bouquet is present along with some polished wood. Pleasant, but not too complex. 

Taste: Initial sweetness with some dried fruit (predominantly apricot) that is quickly dominated by a peppered rye spice.

Finish: Medium in length and smooth with little to no burn. The peppered rye spice lingers with a hint of cinnamon and varnished oak.

Conclusion: While I currently live in MD, it's always nice to try good whiskey from my home state of TN. The peppered spice certainly dominates in this high rye bourbon. For $35 a bottle, it's a nice pour, but nothing I would keep stocked in my home bar. I saw they just released a 9 year, barrel proof expression that is currently only being sold at their gift shop...looking foward to trying that one! 
 
My Rating: B (Good)

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