Belle Meade is Back in Nelson Family Hands

Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson resurrected their family distilling legacy by launching Belle Meade bourbon in 2012 and opening Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville two years later. With Belle Meade and the flagship Nelson's Green Brier, the accolades piled up, and Constellation Brands took a minority stake in 2016, and then acquired majority control in 2019. A few years later, the brothers left the company and their namesake behind. But at the end of last year, they quietly regained the rights to Belle Meade, returning ownership to the family.

The Nelsons announced the news to friends and family at a celebration held this past April. Now, speaking to the media for the first time since their re-acquisition of Belle Meade bourbon, the Nelson brothers reveal their intentions for the brand.

With Belle Meade once again back in family hands, it will be positioned as a Nashville-centric brand for the foreseeable future. The immediate path forward is to establish deep local roots, keeping the products available only in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

“Our plan for Belle Meade bourbon is to start in Nashville and build a following with this community and then grow it from there,” Charlie says. “We’re committed to building a respected, community-minded brand that stands the test of time. Right now, that means sourcing the best barrels we can find, and we’re proud to say we’re doing just that.”

The whiskeys currently are being supplied by MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Company. “We’re always open to new sources,” Andy says. “The key is to make that final flavor profile consistent regardless of the varying sources.”

The Belle Meade lineup today includes Classic, a high-rye bourbon bottled at 90.4 proof, and Reserve, a more mature offering tipping the scales at a heftier 108.3 proof. Expect a single barrel release to follow suit in the future. “It’s still in development, but it’s something we’re excited about,” Andy says.

The company also has Louisa’s liqueur and Schatzi vodka in its portfolio, though Charlie notes that “our immediate focus is fully on Belle Meade Bourbon, as we work to establish it as the cornerstone.”

Would the brothers ever take the leap to open their own distillery again? You might wager that they’re once bitten, twice shy, but perhaps the chase is part of the allure. Says Andy: “Priority number 1 is sustainable growth, but yes, long term, we do aim to build a distillery. Right now, we’re only just at the beginning—the beginning of the beginning. Building a physical distillery of our own is a much longer-term plan.”

Meanwhile, back at Nelson’s Green Brier, Constellation has reduced production and laid off staff, a scenario that’s become all too familiar in the whisky world these days. “Our restaurant, bar, events, tours, and tastings at Nelson’s Green Brier continue to be fully operational and open for business as usual, and our distillery is operating on a modified schedule,” Constellation said.