TNWT finally had a chance to sit down to taste and collect our thoughts on ’s Belle Meade Bourbon.

We don’t want to leave you hanging, so we’ll cut to the chase… this was an enjoyable initial offering from the brand that has been revived after nearly a century of dormancy.

We initially tasted BMB straight out of the bottle and recognized the strong rye influence in the grain bill, perfect for an crisp autumn day… perhaps while watching a horse race? We then opened it up a bit with some ice and took imediate notice of BMB’s sweetness. Not in a “oh my they dumped sugar in this to take the edge off” way, but that sweetness that often accompanies a good whiskey. We found the alcohol to be a bit forward, flavor-wise, which was a bit distracting, but nothing unforgivable. Finally the finish was smooth, very soft corn accents and a nice consistency of body even when cut.

We recently saw a bottle in the Knoxville area priced below $25, which is a bargain for a good fifth of whiskey; but expect to find this Tennessee treat in the $35 ball park. Also, make sure and hit Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery while you are planning your next trip on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail! Only a virtual stop on the trail at this point, we anticipate brothers Nelson bringing the production of this spirit back home where it belongs.