This Tennessee Whiskey Just Added A Restaurant To Its Nashville Distillery

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has officially given locals and visitors in Nashville yet another reason to make sure checking out this distillery makes it on their to-do list. The family-owned brand that produces Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon, and Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon, is wrapping up a major renovation that features a stunning new restaurant.

“We’ve been a part of this neighborhood since 2014 and have long recognized a shortage of places to sit and eat in Marathon Village. We’ve always believed a restaurant was in the future of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery,” shared Michelle Jones, Associate Brand Manager, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery.

The distillery’s 100-seat restaurant aims to be a gathering place for friends and family, whether after a distillery tour or not, and will serve a menu filled with elevated comfort food infused with Southern flair and local flavors. Mouthwatering appetizers include fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and BBQ carrots. When it comes to entrées guests will find options like a Croque Madame, a smoked Gifford’s bologna on brioche, a Nashville hot crab sandwich, and a Niman Ranch double patty smash burger dubbed The No. 5 — an ode to the fact that the original distillery was the fifth to be registered. The dessert menu features a German chocolate cake, a peach and cinnamon pound cake, and a boozy milkshake made with Louisa’s Liqueur.

“The German heritage of the Nelson family is highlighted in a few items while maintaining a very approachable menu for many palates. For example, the Bavarian soft pretzel is given a southern twist in that it’s paired with a hot pimento cheese dip,” says Jones.

In addition to the food menu, the restaurant also features a full-service bar offering a selection of flights showcasing a wide range of Nelson’s products, including exclusive distillery releases, as well as craft cocktails made with Nelson’s bourbons and whiskeys, plus their brand new house-made vodka and gin.

Think light and refreshing cocktails like the Peach & Thyme Smash made with Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon, peach puree, lemon, and thyme; more boozy and stirred beverages like the The Bollinger made with Nelson Brothers Classic Bourbon, Louisa’s Coffee Caramel Pecan Liqueur, and orange bitters; or and the Cold Fashioned, a frozen twist on the classic Old Fashioned made with Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. They will also serve a selection of domestic and local brews such as Modelo, Bearded Iris Brewing Homestyle IPA, and Walker Bros.

As far as the rest of the distillery’s renovation, Jones says it’s coming along nicely and is expected to be fully completed by mid-August. Other new aspects include a transformation of the guest experience with new educational and interactive components to the tours, as well as expanded hospitality offerings and private event spaces. “We are putting finishing touches on our event spaces including a major facelift for The Oak Room which is a 3,360 sq ft space that will be able to accommodate larger events like weddings and corporate functions and boasts a bar, stage and theater style audio/visual,” shared Jones.

Back in 2006, Andy and Charlie Nelson discovered that their great-great-great grandfather, Charles Nelson, founded Tennessee’s largest pre-Prohibition distillery producing the original Tennessee Whiskey. The OG Nelson’s distillery dated back to 1860 where it quickly outsold every other distillery at the time, and was overseen by Nelson’s wife Louisa for many years after his death in 1891, eventually closing its doors in 1909 due to prohibition. In 2019, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery proudly bottled the first batch of Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey since 1909 and haven’t stopped since.