Our pals at Nashville’s Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier, brothers Charles and Andy Nelson, are greatest identified for his or her Belle Meade whiskey lineup, which we’ve reviewed right here completely.
That model has remained the flagship for the distillery, even after the considerably quiet launch of its first house-made whiskey manner again in 2019. Lately, nevertheless, the proficient duo launched a pair of whiskeys beneath a brand new Nelson Brothers label. Each are high-rye bourbons which might be designed to land at a extra approachable value level than the extra premium (and normally specialty cask-finished) Belle Meade.
Given these whiskeys’ suspicious “bottled by” labeling (as an alternative of “distilled by” or “produced by”), my preliminary suspicion was that these had been sourced merchandise, however the Nelsons corrected me by noting that, just like the Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier launch of yore, these are solely made in-house (and presumable older). Colour me shocked; they’re each well-made, refined whiskeys that bear little resemblance to a lot of what you’ll discover within the American craft whiskey trade.
Let’s dig in to each.
Nelson Bros. Whiskey Basic Mix of Straight Bourbons – “A mix of outstanding high-rye straight bourbon whiskeys.” Fairly and interesting on the nostril, this can be a contemporary however considerably gentle whiskey with notes of nutty banana bread, cookie dough, and a touch of fruity cherry. The wooden affect lands totally on energetic vanilla notes; there’s no hoary lumberyard character right here. The palate is clear and refreshing, warming however not sizzling, with notes of butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon bread, and only a contact of peanut brittle. Clear with only a trace of warmth on the end. Surprisingly strong stuff both straight or with a mixer, notably given the value. 93.3 proof. A / $37
Nelson Bros. Whiskey Reserve Bourbon – “The method begins with choosing the choicest plenty of well-aged bourbon barrels within the Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier Distillery stock.” After that it just about goes into the bottle, it appears. The upper proof provides this a extra aggressive, woodier nostril, with a stronger baking spice character, although wooden dominates — extra of the whiskey’s craft origins coming into focus. On the palate, once more it’s huge with wooden however tempered with sunnier notes of brown butter, orange peel, and cinnamon-heavy spice. It’s altogether a bit ruddy and burly, however approachable, although by no means almost as charming because the Basic bottling. Peanut shell and a few pencil lead notes linger on a decidedly savory end. Proof fiends will love the upper abv right here, and the extra intense expertise that comes with it, however that comes at a little bit of a value that robs it of a few of its character. 107.8 proof. B+ / $59 [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
Nelson Bros. Whiskey Basic Mix of Straight Bourbons
$37
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