Belle Meade Sour Mash Straight Bourbon is the flagship release from Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, Tennessee, a heritage brand revived by Charles and Andy Nelson, the triple great grandsons of original founder Charles Nelson. The Belle Meade name traces back to the late 1870s when Sperry Wade and Company, owners of the famed Belle Meade Plantation thoroughbred horse farm, contracted Nelson's Green Brier Distillery to produce a premium whiskey for the racing crowd. The brand was lost during Prohibition and remained dormant for nearly a century before the Nelson brothers reintroduced it in 2014. Each batch is built as a proprietary blend of just four barrels, sourced from MGP Indiana, drawing from two different high rye mash bills and two distinct yeast strains aged between six and eight years. The aggregate mash bill is approximately 64 percent corn, 30 percent rye, and 6 percent malted barley, delivering a notably spicy and complex profile that stands up to mixers without losing character. Bottled at 90.4 proof and labeled with the historic Belle Meade Plantation horses Bonnie Scotland and Iroquois flanking the brand crest, this is a defining bottle for fans of high rye bourbon and Tennessee distilling heritage.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Belle Meade |
| Bottler |
Nelson's Green Brier Distillery, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Source |
MGP Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Indiana |
| Type |
Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Sour Mash, Small Batch |
| Mash Bill |
Aggregate 64% Corn, 30% Rye, 6% Malted Barley (high rye, two mash bills, two yeast strains) |
| Age |
6 to 8 Years |
| Cask |
New Charred American Oak |
| Batch Size |
4 barrels per batch |
| ABV |
45.2% |
| Proof |
90.4 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
USA |
| Heritage |
Pre Prohibition brand revived in 2014 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Golden amber.
Nose: Maple syrup, caramel, floral aromatics, and bright citrus zest with a hint of oak.
Palate: Bold rye spice leads, layered with vanilla, caramel, and a touch of heat. Apricot, gingerbread, and toffee build through the mid palate alongside soft oak.
Finish: Smooth and long with lingering mellow cherry, dried plum, and warming spice.
FAQ
Is Belle Meade Tennessee whiskey or bourbon? Belle Meade is a Straight Bourbon Whiskey, not Tennessee whiskey, despite being bottled at the Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville. The bourbon is sourced from MGP in Indiana and blended in Tennessee, then bottled with full transparency about its sourcing.
What is the Belle Meade mash bill? Each batch blends two different high rye mash bills with two yeast strains, producing an aggregate of approximately 64 percent corn, 30 percent rye, and 6 percent malted barley. The high rye content is a defining characteristic of the brand and gives Belle Meade its signature spicy profile.
How is Belle Meade different from other MGP sourced bourbons? Belle Meade differentiates itself through its small four barrel batch process, the use of two mash bills and two yeast strains in every blend, and a 6 to 8 year age range. The Nelson brothers also expanded the brand with several cask finished expressions including Cognac, Madeira, and Sherry cask finishes.
Where can I buy Belle Meade Bourbon online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
