Brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson have quietly re-emerged at the helm of the Belle Meade bourbon brand, rekindling their family’s deep roots in whiskey craftsmanship.
From Family Legacy to Modern Revival
In 2009, the Nelson brothers rebuilt their family’s historic distillery, Nelson’s Green Brier, returning it to operation by 2014. Their efforts attracted the attention of Constellation Brands, which acquired a minority stake in January 2016 and took majority control in 2019.
Before Nelson’s Green Brier launched its own lineup of whiskeys, the Belle Meade brand served as a platform to showcase carefully sourced, often barrel-aged products. As the distillery and portfolio grew, Belle Meade was phased out — until now.
Belle Meade Reimagined
The Nelsons have regained control of the Belle Meade brand and are relaunching it with a focus on quality and community. The new lineup features blends of high-rye whiskeys sourced from industry leaders MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Launching initially with two expressions — Classic and Reserve — along with a single barrel release, Belle Meade whiskeys will first hit shelves in Nashville with plans for broader distribution throughout Tennessee.
Belle Meade Classic is aged six to eight years with 45.2% ABV.
Belle Meade Reserve is aged seven to ten years with a stronger 54.15% ABV.
Andy Nelson shared, “I feel refreshed to be able to go out there and sell whiskey and build this community around Belle Meade.”
Building a Brand Through Community
Charlie Nelson emphasized that while competition in the bourbon category has intensified over the past decade, their approach centers on cultivating a strong brand identity rooted in community rather than just selling whiskey.
“We believe that what we do is not necessarily sell a category. We focus on the brand itself, and for us, a big part of building a brand is cultivating community,” Charlie explained.
A Brotherhood at Work
Beyond the whiskey, the brothers’ renewed partnership is a compelling story itself. Having grown up sharing a bedroom and bunk beds, Charlie and Andy bring complementary skills and a deep understanding of each other to the business.
Andy reflected, “We have different skills, but we know that we complement each other. So we’re very lucky to work well together, and this is a perfect opportunity for us to continue to prove that.”
Future Prospects and Local Roots
While there is talk of building a new distillery, the brothers are currently focused on growing Belle Meade’s presence and community in Nashville. The brand launch party in April was a lively celebration of food, whiskey, music, and even featured a performance by Charlie himself.
Charlie concluded, “If this is any indication of the future of the brand, we’re in a really good place and we’re really excited about it.”
Related Topics
