Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon – Expert Review

Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon is one of two new bottles being released under the Nelson Brothers name, the other being Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon. Both releases will be available nationwide, replacing Belle Meade as it transitions to a Tennessee-only released product. Despite coming across as surprisingly light considering the proof, the scents play well together in a sip that is straightforward and to the point.

The nose opens with creamy aromas of caramel, marshmallow, vanilla, and a touch of butterscotch. Underneath are scents of charred and aged oak that add dimension. A sprinkle of baking spice rounds things out. A nice opening to the sip.

Sweet notes kick things off in the form of light brown sugar and cinnamon-baked apples. A subtle rye and peppercorn blend adds a nice spice dimension to balance things out. Straightforward and to the point, it doesn’t disappoint.

Rye spice charges forward along with aged oak. Notes of dry leather and peppercorn quickly join in. The spice notes ramp up as the other flavors fade away, leaving a long, lingering heat to enjoy. It’s a subtle but nice way to end things and is in line overall with the rest of the sip.

Compared to older bottles of Belle Meade Bourbon Cask Strength Reserve, Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon doesn’t deliver as dynamic of a sip. It’s more straightforward and has a hard time standing out from the crowd. At the end of the day, this doesn’t deliver the best value for the price.

On the surface, Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon’s $60 price tag seems reasonable, until you start dissecting things a little more. Released from a distillery whose name won’t be familiar to many modern bourbon drinkers, a blended bourbon without any information on origins, mashbills, or ages used, leaves a lot to be desired. Add in that the overall sip varies between average and slightly above average and you start to second-guess the price. At the end of the day, this doesn’t deliver the best value for the price.

Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon is an interesting whiskey. While it’s blended well, it contains not a single exciting bone in its body. The sip is pleasant overall, with a nicely constructed palate and finish that takes simpler flavor notes and works them together in harmony. However, it does little to try to stand out and is priced on the higher side for what it delivers. More so when you consider the fact that very little to no information is released about the bourbons being used in the blend. Taking all of these things into account, you end up with an average bourbon that certainly won’t disappoint, but it also won’t leave a lasting impression either.