Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson made a splash within the Nashville bourbon scene lengthy earlier than they distilled their first barrel. Virtually 14 years in the past, they rolled out Belle Meade Bourbon to nice acclaim and spent years incomes their reputations as purchasers, blenders, distillers, finishers and entrepreneurs of bourbon, rye and Tennessee whiskey. Their authentic releases have been all sourced, which is to say that the brothers bought barrels from a big distillery after which aged, blended and bottled the whiskey below the Belle Meade model.
Earlier than the bourbon increase of the previous decade, it was fairly straightforward to search out glorious barrels within the 6- to 8-year-old vary, and that’s precisely the place the Nelsons discovered the candy spot for his or her first releases. Ultimately, they started distilling pretty minimal quantities in their very own facility, however they have been all the time sourcing the vast majority of the merchandise that they offered, boosting their profile by deciding on actually good whiskeys and sometimes making them even higher by ending them in various kinds of casks that had beforehand held brandies, wines and even honey.
In 2024, mega-distiller Constellation grew to become the bulk stakeholder within the brothers’ firm and possession of each the Inexperienced Brier and Belle Meade Bourbon manufacturers. However on the tail-end of 2024, the brothers quietly regained the Belle Meade rights.
The Nelsons’ newest incarnation of Belle Meade Bourbon is similar to their authentic releases, sourced from the identical place and of an identical age. Whereas they don’t have their very own manufacturing facility but, they’re nonetheless warehousing their barrels, deciding on when they’re prepared and mixing them to create the signature advanced high-rye flavors that many people have come to like.
Their present releases are Belle Meade Bourbon Traditional and Belle Meade Bourbon Reserve. The Traditional is bottled at 90.4 proof, a superb ABV for sipping or for cocktails. This explicit whiskey is even higher than the BMB I remembered fondly. Much more spectacular is the Reserve, barely older with some barrels spending as a lot as 11 years within the rickhouse earlier than coming into the mix, and it’s bottled at a daring 108.3 proof. It’s positively price looking for out.
Since relaunching final spring, Andy and Charlie have been concentrating on constructing retail and bar placements in Nashville and, not too long ago, in Chattanooga. On the identical time, they’re engaged on plans to construct out a brand new facility the place they’d have room to mix, bottle and end their whiskeys and invite company right into a tasting room. Extra on that as particulars turn into extra concrete.
Within the meantime, the Nelson brothers are partnering with Go to Music Metropolis’s annual Dine Nashville programming for an providing with a “Drink Nashville” twist. They’re collaborating with choose eating places which can be long-time Belle Meade followers to create a specialty cocktail for the month of February. Eating places and bars throughout the town will highlight these drinks all through the month with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Belle Meade Spirits Fermentation Science Scholarship at Center Tennessee State College, supporting the subsequent technology of native distilling expertise. Confirmed taking part places up to now embrace:
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Henrietta Pink
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Husk Nashville
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Kayne Prime
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Martha My Expensive
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Martin’s Bar-B-Que
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Moto Moda
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Moto
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Rudy’s Jazz Room
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Sportsman’s Grille
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Superica
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Tailor
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Virago
Further companions will likely be spotlighted on Belle Meade Bourbon’s Instagram as they’re confirmed.
Additionally, Belle Meade Bourbon will host a bourbon and bonbon pairing class with Goo Goo Cluster on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 4 p.m at Goo Goo’s downtown store at 116 Third Ave. S. Visitors will get pleasure from guided tastings of chocolate and bourbon, in addition to get an opportunity to make their very own Premium Goo Goo. Tickets for this experiential class can be found by way of Goo Goo Cluster’s web site.
