Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve Bourbon

For reference, this sample comes from batch 22 that @ContemplativeFox was generous to provide. The nose is very restrained but with some time the notes start to come through starting sweet with a light sourness with honeysuckle, sautéed Granny Smith apples and toasted marshmallow then mild rye spices and chocolate pecan pie followed by mandarin oranges and cherry hard candy that transitions to light spices of spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with honeysuckle, sautéed Granny Smith apples and toasted marshmallow before a moderate spice that slowly fades to blonde espresso and chocolate covered candied pecans followed by mandarin orange zest and sour cherries that transitions to spices of spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dehydrated apricot, sour apple candy, blonde espresso, chocolate covered pecans, spearmint, ginger, cloves, leather and polished mahogany. This is like that introverted friend that arrives at a party shy and restrained but after a while they open up, throw caution to the wind and you spot the friend half naked in a pool of jello challenging others to a match. The nose was incredibly restrained for a while but with time it finally opened up with a honeyed sweetness, mild sour citrus, light rye spices and well-aged oak that carries over to the palate with the addition of earthy espresso and a moderate spice before finishing on the sour side along with light earthy and rye spices. These appear to be around $60+ which is a fair price for a tasty bourbon these days that just requires a little patience.

What to say about MGP? It’s everywhere. Every bottle you’ve spotted and wondered how it got there is probably a startup using youngish MGP juice (or Dickel) and waiting for their own (often questionable) stock to mature (or not...). Where I find MGP really shines is when it’s blended intelligently into something unique. Enter Belle Meade. Known mostly for their lovely cask finishing (except perhaps the Cognac), this is a newish blend from the house of Nelson, replacing the previous single cask barrel proof options. I followed up on this after a highly enjoyable trip through their sherry cask finished bourbon last year. The nose surprises me. For as much rye as MGP uses, I don’t get much spice on first sniff. In fact, apart from some faint bourbony notes, there’s not much on the nose at all. Fortunately, a sip rectifies the nose. This has such a lush, velvety mouthfeel. It’s like bourbon port. The sip is instantly mouth coating, and the spice builds in a crescendo all the way across your palate and down your throat, with a long finish that warrants sitting and contemplating what just happened before you take the next sip. Stunning. I’m told the old cask strength Belle Meades were outstanding. Too bad I missed the boat on those, but I’m happy to have this. If you’re looking for some affordable, well-aged MGP for your collection, this bottle is probably quietly sleeping on a store shelf near you while others obsess over the latest special releases and horsey tops. Highly recommend you check out a bottle.

When first I read the back story I thought this was just another propped up fabrication weaving threads of truth into a vast blanket of lies, like much of our history. Upon tasting this however, I no longer cared. This is the real deal. The cask strength reserve is hot. Unlike Pelosi's leathery hide, this bad boy has aged remarkably well and I find myself wanting to believe in fairy tales again. Leave it to some rural dwellers in Tennessee to restore my faith in the sordid world of bourbon backstories and gimmicks. I imagine that the unsung heroes of Appalachia will also bear the brunt of restoring this once-proud nation to the glory we were always told it embodied. It didn't and we were lied to, but it can be and if it do be, I imagine the core of its strength will be sourced somewhere near Tennessee. I salute thee Nelson brothers, sincerely. From your newest-ish fan.

You can tell this blended and not a young bourbon. On the nose right away I get brown sugar. Strong oak on the tongue and more dry as opposed to rich and oily. Peppery finish with a slight burn but in a good way. This one is strong but still a good sipper. Tried it neat and on the rocks. Even though this one is 108 proof I preferred it neat. Typically I like wheated bourbon so this is far different than my typical go to bourbons like Buffalo Trace, Larceny, or 1792. But the more it drink it the more I like it. This was a bit Pricey@ $79 in the Nashville Airport. Can’t get it where I live but I’m glad I picked it up. Also a great story about the horses on the label. Definitely had a place on my shelf. If you can find it I’d recommend giving it a try.

Nose: Butterscotch followed by vanilla and light caramel. Palate: I get a cherry note right off the bat, followed by the vanilla, caramel and spice. Very mellow for the proof, definitely not thin though, good mouthfeel. Finish: A little light, the cherry, vanilla and caramel vanish quickly leaving only the spice and the first real evidence of the higher proof. Parting Thoughts: I enjoyed this bottle but it’s not one I will replace. Is it better than my staple “3’s?” Yes, but barely. I rather save the $$$ and go with something else. Not unhappy I purchased but there’s a lot of bottles out there I’d like to try vs. going back to this well. 3.25

I’m always on the lookout for Belle Meade’s 12 year cask strength, but it’s impossible to find. I grabbed this to give it a try. It’s not a bad bourbon, but it isn’t anything special either. It lacked a flavor profile I was looking for when spending $60 on a bottle. The heat is a tad much for me on the nose and the tongue, so that could be masking some of the more interesting notes. I’ll give this a few drops of water or ice if I have some again.