Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve Bourbon

For reference, this sample comes from batch 22 that a friend was generous to provide. The nose is very restrained but with some time the notes start to come through starting sweet with a light sourness with honeysuckle, sautéed Granny Smith apples and toasted marshmallow then mild rye spices and chocolate pecan pie followed by mandarin oranges and cherry hard candy that transitions to light spices of spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with honeysuckle, sautéed Granny Smith apples and toasted marshmallow before a moderate spice that slowly fades to blonde espresso and chocolate covered candied pecans followed by mandarin orange zest and sour cherries that transitions to spices of spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dehydrated apricot, sour apple candy, blonde espresso, chocolate covered pecans, spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany. This is like that introverted friend that arrives at a party shy and restrained but after a while they open up, throw caution to the wind and you spot the friend half naked in a pool of jello challenging others to a match. The nose was incredibly restrained for a while but with time it finally opened up with a honeyed sweetness, mild sour citrus, light rye spices and well-aged oak that carries over to the palate with the addition of earthy espresso and a moderate spice before finishing on the sour side along with light earthy and rye spices. These appear to be around $60+ which is a fair price for a tasty bourbon these days that just requires a little patience.

What can be said about MGP? It's ubiquitous. Almost every bottle you've noticed and wondered about is likely from a startup using youngish MGP spirits (or Dickel) while waiting for their own (often questionable) stock to mature (or not...). I find MGP truly shines when it's skillfully incorporated into something distinctive. Take Belle Meade, for example. Primarily known for their excellent cask finishes (though perhaps not the Cognac one), this is a recent blend from the Nelson house, succeeding the prior single cask barrel proof options. I pursued this after a highly enjoyable experience with their sherry cask finished bourbon last year. The nose is unexpected. Given the amount of rye MGP uses, I don't detect much spice on the initial sniff. In fact, aside from some faint bourbon notes, there's not much on the nose at all. Fortunately, a sip corrects this impression. This has an incredibly lush, velvety mouthfeel. It's akin to bourbon port. The sip immediately coats the mouth, and the spice builds in a crescendo across the palate and down the throat, with a lengthy finish that invites contemplation of the experience before the next sip. Outstanding. I'm told the older cask strength Belle Meades were exceptional. It's a shame I missed those, but I'm pleased to have this. If you're seeking affordable, well-aged MGP for your collection, this bottle might be quietly waiting on a store shelf near you while others focus on the latest special releases and horse-themed bottles. I highly recommend you check it out.

When first I read the back story I thought this was just another propped up fabrication weaving threads of truth into a vast blanket of lies, like much of our history. Upon tasting this however, I no longer cared. This is the real deal. The cask strength reserve is hot. Unlike a politician's leathery hide, this bad boy has aged remarkably well and I find myself wanting to believe in fairy tales again. Leave it to some rural dwellers in Tennessee to restore my faith in the sordid world of bourbon backstories and gimmicks. I imagine that the unsung heroes of Appalachia will also bear the brunt of restoring this once-proud nation to the glory we were always told it embodied. It didn't and we were lied to, but it can be and if it do be, I imagine the core of its strength will be sourced somewhere near Tennessee. I salute thee Nelson brothers, sincerely. From your newest-ish fan.

You can tell this is blended and not a young bourbon. The nose immediately presents brown sugar. Strong oak on the tongue, and it's drier rather than rich and oily. The finish is peppery with a slight burn, but in a good way. This one is potent but still a good sipper. I tried it neat and on the rocks, and despite being 108 proof, I preferred it neat. I usually prefer wheated bourbon, so this is very different from my usual choices like Buffalo Trace, Larceny, or 1792. However, the more I drink it, the more I enjoy it. It was a bit pricey at $79 in the Nashville Airport. I can't get it where I live, but I'm glad I picked it up. There's also a great story about the horses on the label. It definitely has a place on my shelf. If you can find it, I'd recommend giving it a try.

Butterscotch, vanilla, and light caramel on the nose. The palate brings cherry upfront, followed by vanilla, caramel, and spice. It's quite mellow for the proof, with a good mouthfeel that isn't thin. The finish is a bit light; the cherry, vanilla, and caramel disappear quickly, leaving only the spice and the first real indication of the higher proof. I liked this bottle but won't buy it again. It's slightly better than my usual go-to, but I'd rather save money and pick something else. While I don't regret the purchase, there are many other bottles I'd prefer to try over this one. 3.25

I’m always on the lookout for a specific distillery's 12 year cask strength, but it’s impossible to find. I grabbed this to give it a try. It’s not a bad bourbon, but it isn’t anything special either. It lacked a flavor profile I was looking for when spending $60 on a bottle. The heat is a tad much for me on the nose and the tongue, so that could be masking some of the more interesting notes. I’ll give this a few drops of water or ice if I have some again.