Belle Meade 9 Year Sherry Cask finish

[kjbeggs]

Saw this in a local store on Saturday.

I know it's sourced Indiana whiskey, and I find their standard release pretty average.

anyone tried this?

"This nine Year-old Belle Meade Bourbon is finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

As a limited release, it represents the best of both old and new world whiskey making techniques as it’s America’s native spirit, Bourbon, that we have blended and finished like a fine Scotch.

We sampled and selected barrels from our Reserve stock and blended only the best in extremely small batches to create a Bourbon of exceptional character. We then aged this extraordinary blend of nine year Bourbon in Oloroso Sherry casks, imported from Spain, until perfection was achieved.

The final results are, to say the least, remarkable. Rich, intricate, and balanced, this Bourbon is one for the ages. There has never been a Bourbon like it and there will likely never be another."

[Lost Pollito]

Tried it, and loved it. Makes the LDI juice a little fatter and rounder, with the sherry dark fruit flavors balancing everything out.

[squire]

There has never been a Bourbon like it and there will likely never be another.

[soonami]

What proof and price is this? If BP and >$80, I'd give this a shot

[squire]

It's 90.4 proof and retails for $79.99, which gives rise to the question what's up with these fractional points? Is there some subliminal message attempted to be conveyed here? Are we being led to believe they are so skilled they can fine tune a Bourbon down to within a few tenths of one percentage point?

[dcbt]

It's 90.4 proof and retails for $79.99, which gives rise to the question what's up with these fractional points? Is there some subliminal message attempted to be conveyed here? Are we being led to believe they are so skilled they can fine tune a Bourbon down to within a few tenths of one percentage point?

[Richnimrod]

Hmmmmm, Let me think about this for awhile........

That's long enough.

I'll pass it up, in favor of almost anything else...

Or, maybe a bottle of HHSS, if I want a truly excellent 'finished' Bourbon.

[zillah]

Looked at it and passed.

[tanstaafl2]

A 9yo MGP bourbon at a much better price point than Willett XCF MGP rye at only a little lower proof. Not sure I would buy without trying but at least not quite as overpriced as the XCF.

[kjbeggs]

Went ahead and got one (for $68)

[Paddy]

Went ahead and got one (for $68)

I'd probably pull the trigger on it at that price. Having said that, I'm pretty happy with HHSS and don't feel that I'm missing out by not having any interest in the XCF.

[ldugsjr1986]

Saw this in Nashville the other day for $72. Thought to myself "they're awfully proud of that stuff," and kept walking. Their standard line is pretty well ... standard to me, and a touch over priced for what it is in my opinion.

[kjbeggs]

Cracked this one open, and it's pretty much as I expected.

The Sherry finish takes some of the edge off, so it's smoother than their standard offering.

I was fully prepared to have a few sips, then mix it with something to finish the pour, but it's a pretty smooth sipper.

I can't even really identify any standout flavors (other than the sherry), just a standard " Indiana bourbon" taste.

It's not woody at all, but it definitely benefited from it's 9 years in the barrel (as opposed to the 4 or so I'm guessing their standard release gets).

It's got a great color, which I'm guessing comes from the Sherry, at least in part, and it looks like a "special" bottle, so you can pull it out when you don't want to waste your favorites when family visits for the holidays.

There are better pours out there for the price, but I'm still glad I tried this one.

[tanstaafl2]

Cracked this one open, and it's pretty much as I expected.

The Sherry finish takes some of the edge off, so it's smoother than their standard offering.

I was fully prepared to have a few sips, then mix it with something to finish the pour, but it's a pretty smooth sipper.

I can't even really identify any standout flavors (other than the sherry), just a standard " Indiana bourbon" taste.

It's not woody at all, but it definitely benefited from it's 9 years in the barrel (as opposed to the 4 or so I'm guessing their standard release gets).

It's got a great color, which I'm guessing comes from the Sherry, at least in part, and it looks like a "special" bottle, so you can pull it out when you don't want to waste your favorites when family visits for the holidays.

There are better pours out there for the price, but I'm still glad I tried this one.

As best I recall when speaking with Charles Nelson last year the standard stuff was 6-7yo MGP and I want to say he indicated it was a blend of both mashbills but not as sure about that part.

I will have to take him at his word as I have seen no written confirmation.

[awachatz]

A 9yo MGP bourbon at a much better price point than Willett XCF MGP rye at only a little lower proof. Not sure I would buy without trying but at least not quite as overpriced as the XCF.

I tried both and I typically a Willett slappy, but the Bell Meade 9yr is the better buy when compared to XCF. I know the first is technically a bourbon and the latter a rye, but they drink and taste very similar.

Edited April 19, 2015 by awachatz

[signde]

i'm near the end of my bottle. i was underwhelmed at first but it's growing on me. it's quite sweet which i like, lots of brown sugar and dark fruit flavors. probably not fair to compare it to a rye but i don't think it's as good as XCF. having said that, i don't think the XCF is $60 better.

[jakerthesnaker79]

I haven't had either the XCF or the Belle Meade but I would think that there would be a better shot of at least seeing the latter on the shelf - the other one seems to vanish so quickly...

[signde]

XCF is still available in the gift shop for $140 last i checked. lots of the belle meade sherry on the shelf here, one of my locals has about 2 cases.

[squire]

I haven't had either the XCF or the Belle Meade.