Belle Meade Madeira Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Tennessee, USA

A rich, thick, and award-winning Tennessee Bourbon.

Charles Nelson immigrated from Germany with his family in 1850. His father was washed overboard during the trip and the burden of supporting the family landed squarely on his fifteen-year-old shoulders. He set immediately to work making soap and candles. Then he opened up a store to sell them. Then he expanded the store into a large grocery chain still in operation today. Eventually, he bought-out his Whiskey supplier — the Greenbrier Distillery. Fate and fortune caused that distillery to close in 1909, but Charles Nelson’s great-great-grandsons — Andy and Charlie — re-founded the distillery, producing a range of Bourbons, Tennessee Whiskies, and specialty spirits.

Madeira Cask Finish Bourbon is the third release in Greenbrier’s series of “Special Cask Finish” Bourbons. As the name implies, it is a blend of their high-corn Bourbons — only 30% rye with a dash of barley in the mash — aged between six and nine years. After marrying, the spirit is finished in Malmsey Madeira casks before being bottled at a very respectable 45.2% ABV. This nudges a full and rich complexity of flavors from the wood… which is why this special Bourbon took home the Double Gold (unanimous) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was awarded 92 points by Distiller.com.

Smartass corner: 
Malmsey (or Malvasia) is one of the four varieties of Madeira Wine noble grapes. It is the sweetest of the four and also has a relatively high level of acidity.