Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson resurrected their household distilling legacy by launching Belle Meade bourbon in 2012 and opening Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier Distillery in Nashville two years later. With Belle Meade and the flagship Nelson’s Greenbrier, the accolades piled up, and Constellation Manufacturers took a minority stake in 2016, after which acquired majority management in 2019. A couple of years later, the brothers left the corporate and their namesake behind. However on the finish of final yr, they quietly regained the rights to Belle Meade, returning possession to the household.
The Nelsons introduced the information to family and friends at a celebration held this previous April. Now, chatting with the media for the primary time since their re-acquisition of Belle Meade bourbon, the Nelson brothers reveal their intentions for the model.
With Belle Meade as soon as once more again in household fingers, it is going to be positioned as a Nashville-centric model for the foreseeable future. The fast path ahead is to determine deep native roots, protecting the merchandise obtainable solely in Nashville and Center Tennessee.
“Our plan for Belle Meade bourbon is to start out in Nashville and construct a following with this group after which develop it from there,” Charlie says. “We’re dedicated to constructing a revered, community-minded model that stands the check of time. Proper now, meaning sourcing the most effective barrels we will discover, and we’re proud to say we’re doing simply that.”
The whiskeys presently are being equipped by MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Firm. “We’re all the time open to new sources,” Andy says. “The bottom line is to make that last taste profile constant whatever the various sources.”
The Belle Meade lineup right now contains Basic, a high-rye bourbon bottled at 90.4 proof, and Reserve, a extra mature providing tipping the scales at a heftier 108.3 proof. Count on a single barrel launch to comply with swimsuit sooner or later. “It’s nonetheless in growth, however it’s one thing we’re enthusiastic about,” Andy says.
The corporate additionally has Louisa’s liqueur and Schatzi vodka in its portfolio, although Charlie notes that “our fast focus is totally on Belle Meade Bourbon, as we work to determine it because the cornerstone.”
Would the brothers ever take the leap to open their very own distillery once more? You may wager that they’re as soon as bitten, twice shy, however maybe the chase is a part of the attract. Says Andy: “Precedence #1 is sustainable progress, however sure, long run, we do intention to construct a distillery. Proper now, we’re solely simply originally—the start of the start. Constructing a bodily distillery of our personal is a a lot longer-term plan.”
In the meantime, again at Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier, Constellation has diminished manufacturing and laid off employees, a situation that’s develop into all too acquainted within the whisky world lately. “Our restaurant, bar, occasions, excursions, and tastings at Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier proceed to be totally operational and open for enterprise as regular, and our distillery is working on a modified schedule,” Constellation mentioned.
