Nelson Brothers Is The New Tennessee Bourbon Brand From Nelsons Green Brier Distillery
Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon
Nelson Brothers
In 2006, Andy and Charlie Nelson learned that their great-great-great grandfather, Charles Nelson, was the founder of Tennessees largest pre-Prohibition distillery and responsible for producing Nelsons Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. The brand has a U.S. trademark dating back to 1860, making it one of the states oldest whiskey brands.
The brothers were determined to resurrect the family business. After three years of research and planning, the Nelsons relaunched that business 100 years after the original closed up shop.
Because it was prohibitively expensive for two twenty-somethings to start a distillery, the brothers began by sourcing whiskey, creating a proprietary bourbon blend and naming it Belle Meade after a label sold by Charles Nelson. Belle Meade took off, and today the brand puts out an extensive line of bourbons, including those finished in sherry, cognac, and Madeira casks.
Fast forward to 2019, and Nelsons Green Brier Distillery bottled the first batch of Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey since 1909, making it on site at their shiny new distillery. Charlie and Andy werent done.
Charlie and Andy Nelson
Nelson Brothers
The founders say the 93.3-proof bourbon works well neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail, and given its affordable price tag , you dont have to hoard it.
Nelson Bros Honey Cask Hits The Secondary Markets
Then on Sunday, September 4th, these new bottles of Nelson Bros Honey Cask began to show up on secondary selling sites with people asking as high as $700 for one. This was quickly followed by skepticism from buyers which sent the price plummeting down to $500. At the time of this writing, none were being sold for cash, just traded for bottles like Weller CYPB and Weller Single Barrel, proving once again that the only thing Weller is good for is trading. It turns out Nelsons Green Brier did a surprise distillery release that day sent out an email around 3:00 PM Eastern indicating that you could sign up for a lottery to purchase the bottle in person for the staggering cost of $200/bottle.
For reference, the 2020 release, which used 11-year-old MGP bourbon was sold for $149.99 per bottle. That release also had 4 different single barrels and yielded about 550 bottles . So not only was NGB now using bourbon half that age, but they were charging $50 more per bottle. They also had produced six times the amount of honey bourbon for this release as the 2020 release.
The numbers that have been thrown around seem to indicate that 3,000 bottles are being released from the result of a blend of 15 barrels . 1,000 will be sold at the distillery, 1,000 will be raffled off to the Coopers Club members and 1,000 will be distributed to various accounts outside of Tennessee.
Nelsons Green Brier Honey Cask
If youre new to what Im talking about, heres the quick skinny: for about 4 years now, Nelsons Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey and Belle Meade have been two separate brands that use two separate kinds of whiskies to put into their own respective bottles, all housed under the same roof. Belle Meade had always used sourced MGP bourbon while NGB distilled their own. Their own stuff used a wheated bourbon mash bill which was charcoal filtered prior to being barreled. The result has always been kind of gross. Belle Meade, on the other hand, has always been kind of delicious.
The thing almost every enthusiast associated Belle Meade with by 2019-2020 was their Honey Cask release. I was at the 2020 release and it was staggering to see 1,000+ people in line by 9am. Many more would have been in line if they hadnt seen the length of it and just turned their car around. Many more were told by friends on the phone youre too late, dont even bother coming. You cant just make a legend like that overnight. Belle Meade earned it and the future was bright.
On a Belle Meade Enthusiasts FB page, a NGB employee decided to chime in after a question was asked if Nelson Bros Bourbon was all being sourced from Kentucky now. The answer that they got back was a word salad that read:
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No More Belle Meade Honey Cask Its Nelson Bros Now
Lets talk about Nelsons Green Brier Honey Cask release for just a minute. If you keep up with bourbn release news, youd know that this was a long time coming. Belle Meades Honey Cask is dead and it has been replaced by NGBs version called Nelson Bros. NGB is having hard time putting into words what exactly theyre doing to the brands, whiskies and finishes that they produce. I know that there have been social media posts and emails and press releases, but its been very poorly done and still confusing.
Nelson Brothers Reserve: Gold & Best Ofs Galore
Were pleased to announce that Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon has been bestowed a stellar score from American Distilling Institutes 2022 International Spirits Competition, garnering a Gold Medal as well as accolades for Best of Class and Best of Category.
Judges’ notes include mentions of a balanced profile with rich flavors and a lively finish assured to be an easy sipper for bourbon enthusiasts and novices alike. So if youre in the market for an elegant and quaffable sipper, be on the lookout for Nelson Brothers Reserve at your local retailer.
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Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon Whiskey
About the Whiskey:
The process begins with selecting the choicest lots of well-aged bourbon barrels in the Nelsons Green Brier Distillery inventory. These barrels would craft the ideal foundation of flavor and fragrance to forge this truly premium and balanced expression. Once singled out, the exceptional sources are expertly batched into a superior, high-proof blend, rich with rye, and redolent of dark cherry, caramel, and spice. The result is Nelson Brothers Reserve, a bourbon certain to startle and delight anyone who comes within sipping distance.
MASH BILL Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
107.8 Proof
Nose: cherry, maple syrup, sweet mint, cinnamon roll Palate: caramel, allspice, cherry, hazelnutFinish: earthy, cocoa, allspice, cherry cobbler
Awards/Reviews:
Best In Category, Best In Class – The American Distilling Institute 2022
Double Platinum – Ascot Awards 2022
“Oh yeah! Dark chocolate, bing cherry, and hints of Dr. Pepper makes for a fun ride!
Gold – SIP Awards 2022
95 Points –The Tasting Panel Magazine, 2022
This is a high-rye bourbon with a high proof of 107.8 that manages to not overshadow its inner beauty. Its warm and polite on the nose, with scents of root beer, sandalwood, and baked apple. The flavors are delectable, from nutty oat and peach blossom to ginger, black cherry, and spiced tea. Notes of saddle leather come in on the mid-palate, leading up to a finish of burnt orange, vanilla, and maple.
90 Points – Whisky Advocate
New Releases: Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon And Reserve Bourbon
Nashville, Tennessee-based Nelsons Green Brier Distillery, part of Constellation Brands, is launching Nelson Brothers, a new line of whiskey. Nelson Brothers will introduce Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon and Reserve Bourbon.
- Andy & Charlie Nelson were determined to make the inaugural Nelson Brothers offering a bourbon for all occasions. This expert blend of exceptional high-rye straight bourbon whiskeys, well-aged in new, charred American oak barrels, was carefully crafted to deliver on that promise. Nelson Brothers Bourbon is a vigorous, versatile pour, equally pleasing neat, on the rocks, or enlivening your favorite cocktail. Theres a reason we call it Classic.
- The process begins with selecting the choicest lots of well-aged bourbon barrels in the Nelsons Green Brier Distillery inventory. These barrels would craft the ideal foundation of flavor and fragrance to forge this truly premium and balanced expression. Once singled out, the exceptional sources are expertly batched into a superior, high-proof blend, rich with rye, and redolent of dark cherry, caramel, and spice. The result is Nelson Brothers Reserve, a bourbon certain to startle and delight anyone who comes within sipping distance.
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Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon And Reserve Bourbon
Nelsons Green Brier Distillery announced the launch of Nelson Brothers, a new line of whiskeys debuting with two releases: Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon and Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon. Now available nationally, Nelson Brothers serves as the distillerys premium brand alongside flagship brand Nelsons Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, bringing diversity and cohesion to a widely acclaimed and quickly growing portfolio, the company says. A versatile bourbon, Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon is aged in new, charred American oak barrels and bottled at 46% ABV, it notes. Specifically tailored to be as approachable as possible, Classic works wonderfully neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, it says. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bourbon offers a similarly balanced profile, but with bigger, bolder elements and flavors blended into an exceptional expression that packs more punch with a 59% ABV, it adds. Packaged in 750-ml bottles, the Classic Bourbon is available to purchase for a suggested retail price of $36.99, while the Reserve is available with an SRP of $59.99 a bottle.
Nelsons Green Brier Distillery, Nashville, Tenn.
Internet: www.greenbrierdistillery.com
Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon Tasting Notes
Nose: cherry, maple syrup, sweet mint, cinnamon rollTaste: caramel, allspice, cherry, hazelnutFinish: earthy, cocoa, allspice, cherry cobbler
Nelsons Green Brier has won awards including gold medals at the 2021 SIP Awards, the 2021 Denver International Spirits Competition and the 2020 San Francisco Spirits Competition.
Nelsons Green Brier is owned by Constellation Brands, which also owns major brands including Corona, Modelo, Svedka and High West. and sought unionization starting in December. In February, the unionization effort was voted down.
Here at Whiskey Raiders, we do more than write about current events in whiskey. We are the only media property reviewing whiskeys and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the whiskey world in one place. If youre interested in getting a shot of whiskey in your morning email,
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Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon Tasting Notes
Nose: spice cake, cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla, baked appleTaste: banana bread, cocoa, cherry, dried pineappleFinish: black peppercorn, spearmint, lemon peel, sweet tobacco
Nelson Brothers Reserve is pricier and more potent, bottled at 53.9% ABV and priced at $60 per bottle, available nationwide this month.
The process begins with selecting the choicest lots of well-aged bourbon barrels in the Nelsons Green Brier Distillery inventory, according to the Nelsons Green Brier website. These barrels would craft the ideal foundation of flavor and fragrance to forge this truly premium and balanced expression. Once singled out, the exceptional sources are expertly batched into a superior, high-proof blend, rich with rye, and redolent of dark cherry, caramel, and spice. The result is Nelson Brothers Reserve, a bourbon certain to startle and delight anyone who comes within sipping distance.
Nelson Brothers Release Continues Revival Of Green Brier Distillery Legacy
The mission for the Nelson Brothers? To revive their familys distilling legacy.
Back in 2006, Andy and Charlie Nelson picked up where Charles and Louisa Nelsons story left off, and they set out to reintroduce the world to Nelsons Green Brier Distillery.
Through whats described as challenges and triumphs, the siblings are turning another chapter and introducing the Nelson Brothers line, a nod to their familys distilling past and a course for their future.
The new Nelson Brothers line up debuts with two bourbons
The brothers just launched a new whiskey expression, Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon, and soon they will debut the Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon, which they say will feature a perfected blend that honors the exacting standards of their founder.
The Nelson Brothers launched Nelsons Green Brier Distillery to offer modern whiskey enthusiasts a line of products that meets what they feel are the standards of quality and integrity established by their great-great-great grandfather Charles Nelson, who founded the family distillery in 1860.
Nelson Brothers Whiskey distillers notes:
Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon
- Nose: Spice cake, cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla, baked apple.
- Palate: Banana bread, cocoa, cherry, dried pineapple.
- Finish: Black peppercorn, spearmint, lemon peel, sweet tobacco.
- ABV: 93.3 proof .
- Mash Bill: Corn, rye, malted barley
Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon
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