Nelson Bros. Madeira Rum Cask Finish Review

Distillery: Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery – Nashville, Tennessee

Proof: 101.4

Age: Five years plus six to nine months of secondary aging

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

MSRP: $95

Website: https://greenbrierdistillery.com/

---

Company

Tour Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, located in Nashville, Tennessee, you will learn about a storied history that dates to the 1800s. 

A German immigrant, Charles Nelson, arrived in the United States in 1850. After a tragedy that killed Nelson’s father and caused a loss of the family fortune, the Nelson family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.

At the time of Nelson’s arrival, Cincinnati was a hotbed of distilleries with nine fully operational distilleries in the area.  In 1851, some estimates put Cincinnati at around 1,100,000 gallons of whiskey produced.  And it is in Cincinnati that Nelson learned the art of distilling. 

In 1860, he moved to Nashville and opened an…..ahem…..”grocery store” selling coffee, meat and whiskey.  Nelson was one of the first to sell whiskey by the bottle.  Quickly, whiskey grew to be the best-selling item in the store.  To meet the demand of his grocery customers, Nelson purchased a distillery in Greenbrier, Tennessee, and launched the fully branded Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. 

By the late 1800s, the distillery was producing over 2 million bottles a year and ranked as one of the largest producers in the country.  Prohibition ended that run and forced the closure in 1909. In the early 2000s, the Nelson family revived the family legacy and opened Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery.  The Distillery maintains a commitment to quality, to blending and to innovation using cask finishing.  And speaking of innovative cask finishing, let’s get to the review of the newly released Nelson Bros. Madeira Cask Finish Whiskey.

Nelson Bros. Madeira Rum Cask Finish Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4/5

The aroma is rich and inviting.  There are significant and prominent notes of honey, green apple and a very rich brown sugar.

Palate – 4/5

In keeping with the Nose, you will find a wonderful delight of honey and cocoa.  The Madeira cask secondary finish seems to influence a strong sense of a honey crisp apple along with just an ever so slight touch of sugary sweetness reminiscent of long forgotten childhood bubble gum.

Finish – 3.5/5

The gentle oak spice warm finish lingers just enough to create a longing for yet another sip!  What more could we want in a whiskey than as it leaves you, you find yourself enthusiastic for the next sip?

Value – 3.5/5

With a $95 MSRP, the Nelson Bros. Madeira Cask Finish places itself in competition against other top-quality expressions.  The price point coupled with the non-traditional secondary finishing may knock the Madeira Cask Finish off some enthusiasts’ radar.  But, if you’re looking for a unique expression that will generate enthusiasm on your part and among your friends, this bottle may well be worth your investment.

Nelson Bros. Madeira Rum Cask Finish Review Review: The Verdict

Verdict – 3.75/5

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