Introduction
Today, we’re diving into Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. This whiskey is aged for a minimum of two years, clocks in at 91 proof, and carries a fairly low price point. Nelson's Green Brier has been making waves in the world of Tennessee whiskey recently, and we’ve had the chance to review a couple of their products. A while back, we tried the Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon and really liked it, so we’re going back to give this Tennessee whiskey a fair shot. After our experience with their other offerings, we’re curious to see how this one holds up.
This review is taken from our episode "The Terminator / Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: The nose here is very grain-forward, with a doughy, yeasty quality. There’s some caramel sweetness, but overall it leans young with a peppery undertone. It’s a decent nose, though pretty young. I’d give it a 7/10.
Bob: I totally agree that it’s young and grain-forward, and the barley really stands out to me—almost giving it a blended Scotch vibe. There’s also some sweetness from the corn, and I picked up some green apple, which I really liked. It’s not super complex, but I’ll give it a 6/10.
Taste
Brad: On the palate, it’s young and grainy again, with almost a cornstarch flavor. There’s some clove spiciness, but it takes a step back for me. I’m landing at a 6/10.
Bob: This is actually much better than I remember from the first time I tried it. Back then, I got this really unpleasant rotten, wet cardboard note, but thankfully, that’s gone now. Still, this feels like a mix of lower-shelf bourbon and lower-shelf Scotch, and it’s not particularly well-rounded. I’ll stick with 6/10 here.
Finish
Brad: The finish continues to lean yeasty and doughy, with some oak and pepper. It’s fine, but nothing remarkable. I’ll give it a 6/10.
Bob: For me, the finish doesn’t offer much in the way of complexity. It’s okay, and I think this would be fine as a mixer. But on its own, it’s pretty unremarkable. I’m at 5.5/10 on the finish.
Balance
Brad: The balance here is consistent throughout, but consistently "meh." Nothing really stands out, but nothing's terribly off, either. I’ll give it a 6.5/10.
Bob: Yeah, I think I’m at a 6/10 here. It’s not bad, but nothing about it is well-rounded enough to really pull me in.
Value
Bob: At $30 in Ohio, I think this is overpriced. There are better options at this price point, and while it’s from a craft distillery, this just doesn’t offer enough to justify its cost. I’ll give it a 4.5/10.
Brad: I see what you’re saying, Bob, but for a small distillery, $30 is actually on the lower end compared to the $45–$50 range you usually see. Based on that, I think it’s okay value-wise, so I’ll give it a 6/10.
Final Scores
Brad: I’m coming out to a 31.5/50.
Bob: I’m at 28/50. So overall, we’re at a combined 29.75/50.
Conclusion
With a combined score just shy of 30, we can’t really recommend Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. While it’s not the worst whiskey we’ve reviewed, there are definitely better options out there, even from this same distillery. We wouldn’t recommend trying or buying this particular expression, but if you’re curious about Nelson's Green Brier, their other products are worth exploring notably the Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon.
If you're looking for something in this price range, there are better choices to consider.
