Old 55 Is Back at Seelbach's

After several years away, we’re excited to welcome Old 55 back to the site.

Old 55 Distillery has quietly been doing things their own way in Indiana. They embody a true "field to bottle" mentality. From harvesting and storing their grain to milling, mashing, distilling, and bottling, they are fully accountable for every step of the process. They refuse to release anything that isn’t 100% Old 55 distilled and truly handcrafted in Newtown, Indiana.

Where they’ve earned the most attention is with their 100% sweet corn bourbon.

For context, a bushel of yellow #2 dent corn costs around $4 and yields about 56 pounds of grain, nearly 50 pounds of it fermentable. Sweet corn costs significantly more, and the yields are dramatically lower. An entire crate of sweet corn produces only a few pounds of usable grain. For easy comparison, the dent corn costs ~$1.50 per gallon of alcohol while sweet corn costs ~$100 for the same gallon of alcohol. That difference adds up quickly.

From a 2,000-pound batch of mash, they produce roughly 20 gallons of whiskey. It takes seven weeks of distilling to fill just nine 30-gallon barrels.

In that same time frame, they could have filled nearly 200 barrels of their regular 80% Yellow Field Corn, 20% Red Winter Wheat bourbon.

If you remember Old 55 from years back, this is a great moment to revisit them. And if you’re discovering them for the first time, this is a chance to taste how a single ingredient choice can make a difference.

Old 55 Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
 
Raisin and brandied cherry lead on the nose before moving into s’mores-like qualities of toasted marshmallow, graham cracker, and oak-kissed semi-sweet chocolate.
 
The palate is rich and viscous. Think slightly unsweetened cherry cola concentrate, dark chocolate, damp oak, and blackberry cobbler.
 
The finish is long and clinging, showcasing the wheat in the mash bill, with raisin and date notes returning alongside molasses and toasted vanilla.
 
Old 55 Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Strength

A sweet start on the nose, with maple cotton candy, vanilla cream, and fragrant sweet corn pudding.
 
The palate is rich yet elevated. Think vanilla custard and heavy brown sugar, with more subtle notes of raspberry and blackberry folded in. Sweet oak is on full display, and while mixed spices emerge, they are well integrated into the sip.
 
The finish is a lovely mix of torched lemon peel and buttery sweet oak, with soft white pepper and corn pudding lingering in a semi-dry, medium-length finish.
 
Old 55 100% Sweet Corn Bourbon
 
A sweeter-leaning turn than the other two, but also a touch more earthy. Light maple syrup, caramel, vanilla icing, and a buttery corn sweetness.
 
The palate leads with flat vanilla Coke before moving into clove and ginger spice, maple syrup, and damp oak.
 
The finish clings to the palate with blackberry cobbler and tobacco before retreating to slightly unsweetened custard and a whisper of cinnamon.