Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey

As my initial foray into Tennessee Whiskey beyond Jack, I'm still exploring this category. Having nearly emptied a bottle, the style has grown on me considerably. The initial aroma presents prominent notes of green apple, maple, and caramel, accompanied by hints of baked dough. The ethanol is quite assertive upfront but mellows within a couple of minutes. Drinking it mostly over ice in a rocks glass, letting the bottle scent linger allows the alcohol to recede, revealing the genuine character. I'm surprised by the aroma's sweetness, distinct from bourbon's, leaning more towards caramel and apple. The taste is sharp at 45.5% ABV, featuring a clear grainy, almost toasted quality. It softens rapidly with salivation, though its overall profile isn't overpowering. Perusing another assessment, I gather the wheat contributes the robust grainy, bready notes, while the Lincoln County process imparts the maple sweetness. It's intensely oaked, yet the wood remains subtle. There are faint traces of leather and peppery grass. The texture is unexpectedly light, which might explain its diminished presence when served with ice (it's been quite delicate on the rocks). The conclusion is rather spirited but fades swiftly. Oak persists, alongside some dry, non-spicy black pepper, and a hint of leather. I detect minimal apple in the aftertaste, but rather notes of overripe, dried apple skins are perceptible. The finish is notably drier than the nose and even the palate suggest. In summary, it's quite enjoyable and considerably more engaging than Jack. Still, I'm eager to broaden my understanding and familiarity with this style to better position this offering amongst its peers.

Appearance: The container boasts an attractive form, echoing a pre-prohibition aesthetic. The branding purportedly mirrors the initial artwork from before the operation's halt during prohibition. The spirit presents a deep amber hue. It's unspecified if any coloring has been added, but regardless, it's a very appealing shade. Nose: This spirit resembles the majority of Tennessee Whiskey (quite akin to bourbon). One can detect hints of vanilla, caramel, and subtle fruit. Nevertheless, a truly distinctive characteristic of this whiskey is an overwhelming aroma of banana bread. I personally find it delightful and believe it contributes a rather enjoyable and uncommon quality to the aroma. Palate: Once more, the customary Tennessee Whiskey (bourbon) characteristics are evident, including vanilla, caramel, and fruit. My preferred element of the taste profile is the progression from the middle to the end, where a dark chocolate flavor emerges, transforming into an almost dark chocolate-covered cherry sensation. Summary: An exceptionally well-made whiskey that I greatly appreciate. The fact that it's not sold locally and required a trip to Tennessee to acquire doesn't detract from it. For $35, I believe it delivers all the expected classic flavors along with some unexpected, distinctive elements that render it an enjoyable whiskey to savor. Cheers!

The aroma presents oak and green apple with subtle smoke and dried flowers. Predominantly sweet, with a faint hint of spice as it develops. The taste is quite smooth, yielding to oak, pepper, and caramel apple, primarily coating the center of the tongue and mouth's sides, which detracts from the mouthfeel. It's neither thin nor rich, but the palate's simplicity and lack of change make it unremarkable. The finish is of medium length and slightly dry, with the sweetness and oak not fully persisting. Everything fades quickly, though a peppery note lingers. It might be acceptable with ice or in a mixed drink, but as a neat sipping whiskey, it leaves something to be desired.

I appreciate the Belle Meade bourbons, particularly the reserve. Since it's sourced from MGP, I was eager to sample their own spirit. The label indicates over two years of aging, making me hesitant. A quick smell upon pouring reveals a touch of caramel and oak. As it rests, it becomes grassy. After fifteen minutes, it's heavy on yeast and light on wood, tasting very grainy, much like a certain pot still release. It's not terrible, but it's not to my preference. It brings to mind my usual critique of many new craft producers who rush products to market before they are ready. The finish is an overwhelming mix of grain, mash, and yeast that I don't enjoy. I'll stick with Belle Meade.

It has a noticeable burn but lacks the harsh, unpleasant flavors of cheap spirits, likely due to the charcoal filtering that distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from bourbon. It presents significant rye spice, maple wood smoke, caramel, vanilla buttercream, cinnamon, basil, baked apples, a heavy charcoal presence, creamed corn, and dried, mild plantains linger on the palate and finish. The flavors are well-balanced, and the overall impression is quite good. It improves with air. Their Belle Meade bourbons are superior. Recommended alternatives include Russell's 10yr, Old Forester 1897, and Michter's.

I like trying new bourbons at our local bar and this was one I’d never had. Had this in a glencairn glass neat. The aroma was sweet but that was it. Almost like it wasn’t a bourbon but a brown liquid. The taste is thin, sour, like drinking water purée through dirt. Just not drinkable. The finish was so fast it felt like all you tasted was the palate “dirt” you had before. Overall, no, don’t, just don’t. If someone puts this in front of you, I’d recommend to slowly step back and politely bring up a different bottle to drink. Scale:.25