Belle Meade

[Golferpimp1]

In Nashville for the weekend and may swing by the distillery tomorrow. Any thoughts on this bourbon. Is it worth going by?

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[silverc]

The standard bourbon is decent but thin. I bought a bottle but wouldn't buy another. They make several varieties that are finished in sherry, cognac, or Madeira casks. I've had the sherry finished and it's good, but still a bit thin and overpriced at $70-80. If you pick up anything, I'd highly recommend picking up the single barrels that are cask strength. They are excellent, have a much improved flavor profile and mouthfeel over the regular release, and are priced about $50-65, roughly mid-way between the standard and the wine finished versions.

[Hop]

I have never visited a distillery where I didn't think it was worth the trip so I would go by... As to the whiskey I don't care for their "finished" products but then again I rarely like anyone's "finished" stuff.

 

I will however say they have done a very good job with the 9 year single barrel, barrel strength selections I have had - enough so that I bought by the case once I determined I liked them.  It's sourced bourbon but for less than $50 each after the case discount they were well worth it

[Richdel]

So from what I read here, you all believe their sour mash single barrel 9yo cask strength is a "Buy"?  Local LS just got a few bottles in at ~$65 out the door.

I had been toying with the idea of trying one of their offerings, wasn't all to enthused to try the finished bourbon, but when the SB9yoCS arrived it went on to the short list 

for Christmas (along with a SAOS SB 11yo that showed up at the same time at approximately the same cost).  Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Golferpimp1]

Well went by the distillery today. Great folks and very interesting story. The single barrel cask strength was really pretty good, the small batch was ok. Didn't much care for the sherry cask finished or the white whiskey they put out. Passed up on a bottle of the single barrel as it was 74.99 in the gift shop which was a bit steep for me.

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[Hop]

There are better deals on the 9 yr out there - just keep your eyes open - probably right there in Nashville... Midtown, Frugal's, etc... might have some on hand

[Golferpimp1]

There are better deals on the 9 yr out there - just keep your eyes open - probably right there in Nashville... Midtown, Frugal's, etc... might have some on hand

The single barrels in the gift shop were 10 yr. But I feel like I have seen the single barrels at specs in tx. For much less. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Honestly it's a bit frustrating that the gift shop prices are in excess of what the liquor stores are charging.

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[Hop]

look around I don't thing I've ever seen the SB higher than 64.99 and then bought on sale for 54.99 less a case price discount - not sure if they still have it but McScrooges in Knoxville is where I got my cases/bottles

[silverc]

It seems the prices on the Belle Meade single barrels vary widely. I've seen them for as cheap as $44 to as high as $75-80. They are a great buy at $60 or less, but any higher than that I tend to get a little reluctant given the price variation. You shouldn't have any problem finding them at liquor stores in Nashville. They were all over Knoxville after Thanksgiving when I looked.

[jvd99]

May be too late to be of assistance, but avoid the sherry cask finish, it's not that good and doesn't come close to justifying the price.

[Golferpimp1]

May be too late to be of assistance, but avoid the sherry cask finish, it's not that good and doesn't come close to justifying the price.

Yes it was a sure pass. I didn't even finish the sample of that. The single barrel on the other hand was great.

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[squire]

During that tour did they tell you the source of the Bourbon?

[Golferpimp1]

They did not.....just that they had a partner they worked with. And were working on aging some of their own stuff but have it been back st it since 2006.

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[squire]

1 hour ago, Golferpimp1 said:

They did not.....just that they had a partner they worked with. And were working on aging some of their own stuff but have it been back st it since 2006.

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Thanks for the response.  I couldn't glean much from their web page except they source from a "partner" (of course MGP will partner with anyone who's check clears) and the product was a blend of two mashbills resulting in a whisky with 30% rye content.  MGP make a 36% rye and a 21% rye which could be blended together in a proportion that results in 30% though we don't know what they're doing for sure.  Green Brier mentions a partner, which descriptor is singular, and MGP is the only single source I know of that produces two high rye Bourbons that when mixed could produce a 30% final result.

 

They have been in business long enough to age their own make yet the only still pictured on their site is a modified column still of modest capacity that couldn't provide the volume they are distributing now, so it's logical sourcing will remain part of their business plan.  

 

Which is fine, MGP makes a solid product, but hardly a premium one and certainly not one worth three times the cost of Old Grand BIB (29% rye) no matter how attractive the bottle or how charming the back story.

[tanstaafl2]

5 hours ago, squire said:

 

Thanks for the response.  I couldn't glean much from their web page except they source from a "partner" (of course MGP will partner with anyone who's check clears) and the product was a blend of two mashbills resulting in a whisky with 30% rye content.  MGP make a 36% rye and a 21% rye which could be blended together in a proportion that results in 30% though we don't know what they're doing for sure.  Green Brier mentions a partner, which descriptor is singular, and MGP is the only single source I know of that produces two high rye Bourbons that when mixed could produce a 30% final result.

 

They have been in business long enough to age their own make yet the only still pictured on their site is a modified column still of modest capacity that couldn't provide the volume they are distributing now, so it's logical sourcing will remain part of their business plan.  

 

Which is fine, MGP makes a solid product, but hardly a premium one and certainly not one worth three times the cost of Old Grand BIB (29% rye) no matter how attractive the bottle or how charming the back story.

 

As of a year or two ago it was definitely MGP according to one of the brothers when I spoke with him. No reason to think otherwise now.

 

The still is a relatively new addition that was brought on line in about the middle of 2014 as I recall.

[aggieactuary]

My brother and I did the tour the week before Christmas, and the guide was very clear that the source is MGP.  

She said it without mincing words.

She said they created the Belle Meade brand to finance the Tennessee whiskey that is their own distillate.

Good tour, some interesting history.

 

I picked up a bottle of the single barrel cask strength.

It was a "special" Christmas selection; lower proof than normal, around 106 if I remember correctly.

One of the workers spoke very highly of the Christmas selection and said the distillers had been grabbing bottles.

I opened it the other night, and I was surprised by how good it was.

Too bad it's a one off.

 

I'm curious to try their Tennessee whiskey when it's ready.

They said it is about two years old, and they want to wait until at least four years old.

They may do a small, local only release of the two year.

[musekatcher]

5 hours ago, aggieactuary said:

My brother and I did the tour the week before Christmas, and the guide was very clear that the source is MGP.  

She said it without mincing words.

She said they created the Belle Meade brand to finance the Tennessee whiskey that is their own distillate.

Good tour, some interesting history.

 

I picked up a bottle of the single barrel cask strength.

It was a "special" Christmas selection; lower proof than normal, around 106 if I remember correctly.

One of the workers spoke very highly of the Christmas selection and said the distillers had been grabbing bottles.

I opened it the other night, and I was surprised by how good it was.

Too bad it's a one off.

 

I'm curious to try their Tennessee whiskey when it's ready.

They said it is about two years old, and they want to wait until at least four years old.

They may do a small, local only release of the two year.

 

Yes this is on my radar too.  Waiting on 2019 for the release.

[JonRob]

I've always wanted to enjoy them more (since they are local) but it's hard to pay 10-20 more for the same exact juice in a different bottle.  I've tried them all except the Sherry Finished BP and a lot of my friends say it exceptional.