Belle of Bedford 14-year & Toasted 8-year Rye

Belle of Bedford has become one of those names we can count on for standout rye year after year, and it seems like you all feel the same way. Our 14-year single barrel from February quickly sold out in PRO, so we went back for another one, along with a new 8-year toasted rye - some of our best rye picks so far in 2026!
 
Hughes Bros. Distillers burst onto the Seelbach's radar in early 2021. Great whiskey brand requires good whiskey and a captivating story. We often see "captivating" instead of a "true" story. The true history of whiskey in America is often overlooked. Kentucky is famous for Bourbon. American whiskey is actually Pennsylvania. Rye whiskey was first produced by Eastern European settlers in the 17th century. That's where John J Hughes got his start.

 
Hughes founded the Hughes Distillery in 1872 near Schellsburg, Pennsylvania. The distillery was on a farm with a gristmill, 150 acres of forested land, and a productive spring-fed lake. The whiskey produced became well-known and was later renamed Hughes Bros. Distillers in 1890 by John J's sons. The distillery operated continuously until Prohibition began in 1920. During this time, "Monongahela Rye" was the style of whiskey produced. A Monongahela Rye mash bill, used in Pennsylvania, consisted of 80-100% rye grain. The remaining part made up of corn or malted barley.
 
Cyrus Kehyari, the great-great-grandson of John J Hughes, revived the Hughes Bros. Distillers brand in 2020. They source straight rye whiskey from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This is to recreate that historic Monongahela house style of Hughes Bros. We've released several private barrels from Hughes, and are excited to continue to do so. 
 
Hughes Bros. 14-Year Extra Aged Single Barrel Rye #3898 113.37 proof

The nose is robust and punchy, but sneaky at the same time. While you get some charred citrus notes, rounded brown sugar, and sweet-leaning oak, you don’t really get the typical rye-like spices you may expect, making this quite a bourbon lover’s delight. As it relaxes, more leather and aromatic antique oak grow, making this more nuanced and vintage-leaning.

The palate follows in a similar direction, as the aged oak and caramel notes lead, drinking more like a dusty bourbon. You definitely have some rye and ground ginger nipping at the back of the sips, but the plump caramel-forward profile is the focus.

The finish remains delicate yet rich, highlighting balanced wood sugars, candied lemon peel, and softer spice character, with some unique, almost liqueur-esque herbal twists and turns along the way. 

 
Hughes Bros. 8-Year Toasted Barrel Rye #3902 113.11 proof
 
The nose is sweetly inviting, giving lots of honey-dipped dried and dark fruit notes of date, raisin, plum, and dried cranberry, with warm sticky bun-like confection and brown sugar.
 
The palate is chewy and coating, with this velvety barrel char opening up to more rounded fruit notes of cranberry, cherry, and apple, candied citrus peel, and a gently torched vanilla custard profile.
 
Compared to our last barrel, the spices seem much more mellow and balanced. While there are certainly plenty of baking spices, they are sugary and playful. Candied orange peel leads the way, while that vanilla custard, dark caramel, and lightly toasted marshmallow continue to add depth and sweetness to the sips.