Belle Meade Bourbon re-emerges in Nashville
Brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson are back on the whiskey-making scene with a reimagined Belle Meade range.
Without much fanfare, brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson have put their weight back behind the Belle Meade line of Bourbons.
The brothers refounded their family distillery, Nelson’s Green Brier, in 2009, with production beginning in 2014. In January 2016, Constellation Brands purchased a minority stake in the distillery and in May 2019, it took majority control.
Before the distillery was able to feature its house-made and aged whiskey, it used the Belle Meade line to showcase sourced products, often with cask finishes. As the distillery and its portfolio have evolved, the decision was made to sunset the Belle Meade brand, with it now landing in the hands, once again, of the Nelson brothers.
“I feel rejuvenated to be getting into the market and selling whiskey and building this community around Belle Meade,” Andy said.
The reimagined Belle Meade will blend high-rye whiskeys from MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Company, with two initial expressions, Classic and Reserve, and a single barrel to come. The whiskeys will launch in Nashville with planned expansion throughout Tennessee.
“There’s a lot of new brands that have come onto the market over the last decade and so increased competition,” Charlie added. “We believe that what we’re doing is not necessarily selling a category. It’s about the brand and to us, a big part of building the brand is cultivating community.”
Andy said Belle Meade Classic will be aged between six and eight years and bottled at 45.2% ABV. Belle Meade Reserve, meanwhile, will be aged between seven and 10 years, and bottled at 54.15% ABV.
Almost more so than the return of the whiskey is the return of the brothers themselves, who, after a brief spell apart, are back working together again.
“When we were growing up as kids, we shared a bedroom, we had bunk beds. We have known each other so well through the years,” Andy recalled. “We have different and complementary skill sets and we know that to be true from our entire lives. So we’re really fortunate that we work well together, and this is just such a perfect venture for us to keep proving that.”
There is some talk of building another distillery but that is still a way off, with fostering a community within Nashville the primary focus out the gate. In April, the brothers threw a brand launch party in Nashville, with food, whiskey, and music, where even Charlie sang.
“If this is to represent what the brand is going to be,” Charlie said, reflecting on the party weeks later, “then we’re in a damn good spot, and we’re really excited about it.”
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