Seelbach's 17-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Returns With Batch 2!

While we were planning, we wanted to find a way to kick off Bourbon Heritage Month in a big way for you all. Back in April, we introduced the newest label in the Seelbach's Private Reserve line: the 17-year. These are the same lot of barrels as our 15-year, and they have continued to age all the way to 17 years and 5 months. This elegant and well-aged bourbon showcases deep, rich fruit notes. However, there’s an added layer of black tea, oak spice, and tobacco that creates an incredibly complex, rounded bourbon. Because of the low yields of these barrels after 17 years of aging, I can’t guarantee that there will be a third release. For now, we'll just enjoy what we have! I’m very proud and excited to introduce Batch 002 of Seelbach's Private Reserve 17-year!

The additional aging has pulled Batch Two into a darker, more concentrated expression, with dried fruit, black tea, and mature oak taking a more prominent role. The nose opens with warm oak spice and orange zest before quickly moving into dried cherry, cherry cordial, and blackberry cobbler. As it rests, maple sweetness emerges alongside strongly steeped black tea, ginger syrup, and a touch of peach cobbler. The fruit feels deeper and more concentrated this time around, with dried cherry becoming the defining note against the seasoned oak.

The palate carries that richness forward. Dried cherry and dark stone fruit lead, followed by blackberry preserves and peach cobbler. Biscoff cookie spice and a touch of honeysuckle provide sweetness before the oak begins to assert itself. It’s mature but composed, bringing cinnamon, clove, and dry oak spice without overwhelming the fruit. Black tea runs through the entire palate, adding a slightly tannic, herbal backbone that gives the bourbon impressive structure.

The finish is long, dry, and increasingly complex. Dried cherry and honeyed stone fruit slowly give way to pipe tobacco, strongly brewed black tea, and seasoned oak. A final surge of baking spice and dry oak lingers alongside the fruit, leaving Batch Two darker, more structured, and more complete than its predecessor.