Seelbach’s 10-Year Double Oaked Toasted French Oak Straight Bourbon
Blake Riber
October 31, 2025

It's releases like this that showcase our skills as blenders. To quote an image pinned in my office "it's easy to criticize when you aren't doing anything that can be criticized." I think it's from Chef Sean Brock. To be honest I don't remember but the quote, and philosophy behind it, has stuck with me for years. From reviews on the Bourbonr blog, to the selection we curate and single barrels we select for Seelbach's. We continuously look for ways to showcase craft whiskey. The Private Reserve is the epitome of all of those things!
The journey for this batch started in September 2024. We blend six 9-year 3-month MGP barrels and added them to new Medium Toast French oak barrels. These barrels were Char #3, 24 to 36-month “Wine Quality” Air Dried Staves barrels.
The nose is indulgent. It's creamy with dessert-like notes of persimmon, toasted vanilla bean, and torched sugar. The tannic structure perfumes the French oak. It's warming. Like you're walking into a bourbon rickhouse on a warm summer's day. The palate leads with more caramel and spice. Flambéed cherries and aged black tea start to butter rye toast with apricot jam. The oak continues to develop towards the back palate. This all leads to a long coating finish. Black pepper, toasted almonds, and blackberries finish off this well-rounded and complex bourbon.
Double Oak: 13-months in New Toasted French Oak Barrels
Blend: Double Oaked 10-Year 3-Months; Unfinished 11-Years 9-Months; Unfinished 10-Years 10-Months
Proof: 113.3 proof
Source: Indiana
Mash Bill: 75/21/4 & 60/36/4 Corn/Rye/Malted Barley
Bottle Count: 839 bottles