Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Whiskey Review

Distillery: Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery—Nashville, TN

Proof: 116.3 (58.15% ABV)

Age: Five Years plus Six to Eight Months of Secondary Finish

Mashbill: 64% Corn, 27% Rye, 9% Malted Barley

MSRP: $150

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Bourbon First, Honey Second—A Secondary Finish That Mostly Delivers

Nelson Bros. has built a solid identity around finishing choices, elevated proof points, and a clear respect for their foundational higher-rye bourbon.  Whether through Cognac, Maple, or Sherry cask finishes, they’ve shown a tendency to enhance—not overwrite—their core whiskey.  With their Honey Cask Finished Straight Bourbon release, Nelson Bros. again walks that fine line.  This expression joins their Cask Finish Series and allows their base whiskey to shine while layering complexity from a Secondary Finishing.

Released May 2025, this limited-edition bourbon begins with their signature mashbill, then goes through a in barrels that previously held wildflower honey from TruBee Honey Farm in nearby Arrington, Tennessee.  No additives, the influence comes solely from the residual honey embedded in the ex-Hone cask.  At 116.3 proof, it stands as one of the more potent in their Cask Finish series, intended for those who enjoy a bold spice-forward bourbon with a subtle edge of natural sweetness.

In a secondary finish category that is often ruined by over-sweetness or novelty expression, this release is more refined—offering a dry, spicy base with floral notes and a honeyed depth that takes time to reveal itself.   It’s a honey cask bourbon designed not for sweetness seekers.  Rather it feels like it is it aimed squarely at bourbon enthusiasts….

Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.1/5

Initial ethanol notes give way tolayered notes of wildflower honey, cotton candy, and peaches.  After a couple of minutes in the glass, honeysuckle, chamomile, and toasted sugar emerge.  There’s an underlying heat that balances the fresh floral nature.

Palate – 4/5

Full and coating, with immediate flavors of caramel, vanilla bean, and graham cracker.  The proof asserts itself with notes cracked white pepper, cinnamon stick and baking spice dominating mid-Palate. The honey secondary finish avoids overt or dominating sweetness which allows the rye-forward foundational whiskey to still shine.

Finish – 3.8/5

Long and warming.  Notes of black peppercorn, cherry pie filling, and spearmint.  Hints of honeyed black tea and citrus linger on the back of the tongue while a dry tannic exit creates a confusing close to an otherwise quality Finish.  Regardless, the Finish leaves you with a curiosity for another sip which would seem exactly what a distiller would want in their Finish.

Value – 3.5/5

At $150, this release faces steep scrutiny with respect to its Value.  The proof is there, and the finishing technique adds to the overall quality.  But it is up against others that have stronger age statements, packaging, or rarity often associated with bourbons at this price tier.  The honey finish is subtle and refined—not transformative.  As a result, the expression offers measured value for newcomers to Nelson Bros.  For those already aligned with the Nelson Bros profile or deeply interested in well-executed honey cask experiments, this is a good pick up.  For the broader whiskey market, the MSRP feels ambitious.

Nelson Bros Honey Cask Finished Bourbon is a proof-forward expression.  It avoids a sweetness trap that is often seen in this type of secondary finishing.  Rather, the expression offers a floral-spice balance that deepens with time in the glass.  However, at $150, it competes with bourbons offering greater complexity, longer aging, or deeper rarity.  

Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Whiskey Review: The Verdict

Nelson Bros Honey Cask Finished Bourbon is a proof-forward expression.  It avoids a sweetness trap that is often seen in this type of secondary finishing.  Rather, the expression offers a floral-spice balance that deepens with time in the glass.  However, at $150, it competes with bourbons offering greater complexity, longer aging, or deeper rarity.  For Nelson Bros fans, this expression is well worth exploring. But for the broader enthusiast community, this release stops a little short of delivering the sensory experience expected at its price point and just misses our Gold rating. Shop here.

Verdict – 4.2/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3