Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, located in Nashville, announced that it has named Brandon O’Daniel as its new head distiller. 

O’Daniel will lead the production efforts at the Marathon Village distillery while continuing his role as head distiller at Copper & Kings, an American brandy distillery out of Louisville, Ky., that released its first bourbon in 2023 to nationwide acclaim. Both distilleries are part of the Constellation Brands (CBI) portfolio.

“We are excited to officially welcome Brandon to our Nashville team,” James Hensley, general manager at Nelson’s Green Brier, said in a news release. “His innovative spirit and dedication to quality at Copper & Kings have long been inspiring to us, and we look forward to seeing the impact he will have on our brand.”

A Kentucky native with deep roots in the wine and spirits industry, O’Daniel brings a legacy of expertise to Nelson’s Green Brier. His family’s history in the trade dates back to his great-grandfather, who was a distiller in the 1920s, and his grandfather, who was involved in the wine business during the 1980s. 

O’Daniel’s journey in the industry began with vineyard management and consulting, educating farmers on Kentucky’s finest grape varietals following the state’s shift from tobacco. His passion for the craft led him to become a winemaker and eventually brought him to Copper & Kings, where he thrives in a community that shares his commitment to small-batch, natural distillation.

O’Daniel said, “Nelson’s Green Brier is a storied distillery, with deep roots in the legacy of Tennessee whiskey, so it’s an honor to step into the role of head distiller. I look forward to continuing that legacy alongside an incredible team to produce bourbons known for novelty and innovation.”

In his expanded role overseeing both distilleries, O’Daniel will focus on production, quality, innovation, and operations, guiding the teams to produce exceptional spirits that continue to set industry standards.

Nelson’s Green Brier was originally founded by Charles Nelson in the 1800s as one of Tennessee’s largest pre-Prohibition distilleries and was revitalized by his great-great-great grandsons over a century later. Since the distillery’s revival in 2014, the distillery has earned a reputation for its rich history, innovative cask finishes and approachable bourbons.

ABOUT NELSON’S GREEN BRIER DISTILLERY

In 2006, Andy Nelson, along with his brother Charlie, stumbled upon the discovery that his great-great-great grandfather, Charles Nelson, was the founder of Tennessee’s largest pre-Prohibition distillery and produced the original Tennessee Whiskey. The distillery’s history dates back to 1860 and in 2019, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery bottled the first batch of Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey since 1909. The modern-day distillery, located at 1414 Clinton St. Nashville, TN 37203, is open to the public and offers educational and interactive guided tours, a product tasting, full-service restaurant and bar, as well as multiple event spaces and mercantile shop. Learn more at https://greenbrierdistillery.com.