Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon

Had a nice sweetness but something just wasnt great. Maybe a little too oaky or ethanol-y but not my favorite. Nice aftertaste.

Smokey sweetness with a ton of flavor. Thank You Alex for bringing this back

Nose:there is a spicy red pepper from the rye for me. Hay with light vanilla and and a hint of carmel. I can get a little heat on the nose from the proof. Palate: Baking spices and black pepper develops into a dark chocolate bitterness that turns straight oak. Finish: Hot and oaky. Heavy oak with a satisfying burn from the Proof. 3 drops of water Lightens the nose to more hay and vanilla extract. Takes away the black pepper and bitterness. Cools down finish less oaky bitter and more oaky sweet. I preferred it with the water. Good experience from an MGP. You might not like this if you don't like rye. Was recommended to me because its not being released again.

Nose is apple pie, brown sugar, tangerine, vanilla sprinkled with sawdust and a squirt of lemon. A tickle of pepper. Not sure what the age is but it compares well to Dickel 13 and Knob Creek 12, similar profile. Caramel, oak, pepper, vanilla and more apple pie with some citrus on the palate. Smooth and delicious. For me, this is a buy-it-when-you-see-it bottle. Finish is enjoyably tannic and spicy. Bumping this to a 4.25 after it beat out Baker’s 7yr (3rd) and Nelson Bros Reserve (2nd) in a blind test of 107-108 proof bourbons. Underrated.

Consensus winner at the 2023 Birthday Boy Bourbon Tasting! Michelle was proud, as she bought the bottle a couple of years ago. I’d just never opened it. Now I know! At the risk of exagerating, my first thought is it reminds me a lot of Pappy 15. I said what I said. This was during a blind tasting, and I kind of wondered if the host snuck it in. But no! It’s Belle Meade – a fantastic bourbon I’d like to always have around.