Caramel | Cherry | Apple | Orange | Vanilla | Oak | Soft & gentle yet full of delicious aromas

Caramel | Pound cake | Mild oak | Underlying of tropical fruit | Sweet

Brown sugar | Toasted oak pepper | Touch of mint | Besides the pepper, the other flavors trail off fast

Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon is one of two new bottles being released under the Nelson Brothers name, the other being Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon. Both releases are available nationwide, replacing Belle Meade as the company transitions that product to a Tennessee-only release. According to the press release, “Nelson Brothers marks a new chapter for Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery,” says Andy Nelson, co-founder of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. “It honors our great-great-great grandfather Charles Nelson’s legacy, while building on our rich family heritage to position the portfolio for successful growth in the future.” Unlike the company’s Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey which is distilled and aged in-house, the whiskeys used in this blend are sourced from other distilleries.

Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon isn’t quite what the name implies it to be. While traditional notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak can be found throughout, it's the whiskey’s fruitier notes that help elevate this rye bourbon from being simply a standard fare. Leaning sweet throughout makes it an easy sipper even though it surprises you with an unexpected dash of pepper that lingers during its finish. The bourbon works because it leans on its classic side just enough while bringing something exciting to the mix in the form of its tropical fruit note. With a pound cake note mixed in for good measure, the palate comes together quite nicely. The finish ends abruptly and is largely a straightforward affair that is saved by its minor mint note. Taken as a whole, the bourbon comes together well in the end. If you’re looking for a bourbon that will appeal to a broad range of drinkers that leans sweet and is an easy sipper overall, you can’t go wrong with what Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon offers. Don’t overlook this hidden gem.