Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery Goes All In On Cask Finished Bourbons

The rapid rise in interest among distillers and drinkers alike in cask finished bourbons has created a marketplace rapidly filling with American whiskeys which have seen extra aging time in all sorts of ex-wine, beer, and other types of spirits casks. One of the distilleries that got an early start on this is Nelson’s Green Brier out of Tennessee, and the relative success they’ve had to date has resulted in what’s now a dedicated line up called the Craftsman Cask Collection.

The Belle Meade Craftsman Cask Collection, according to those behind it, follows up on the heels of recent distillery releases tied to ex-sherry, cognac and madeira casks which were used to finish sourced bourbon. The new collection, which will see the debut of four bourbons under it this year alone, has as its first release a whiskey aged at least ten years that’s been touched at the end by ex-Mourvèdre wine casks from a California winery.

This Belle Meade Bourbon Mourvèdre Cask Finish, bottled at 117 proof, was rested in 148 days in a single Mourvèdre cask which came from the Withers Winery in the Sierra Foothills of California. It is said winery owner Andrew Tow has been a fan of Belle Meade Bourbon since day one, and that he sent them a cask for this project, ultimately netting only 288 total bottles that will be sold at the distillery only.

Following up on the heels of these release will be three more later this year, all as yet undisclosed by the distillery. You’ll find limited official tasting notes for the Mourvèdre variant below for your consideration.

• Nose: A robust nose of caramel, black cherry, cedar and floral notes.
• Palate: Full of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spices and currant.
• Finish: Very long and accentuated by baking spices and cedar atop a bed of dark fruit and caramel.