Seelbach's 21-Year HAZMAT American Light Whiskey is Here!

What happens when you age high-proof, American Light Whiskey in ex-Four Roses barrels for over 21 years? You're left with a deeply concentrated flavor profile that is hard to match anywhere else. What I love about these Light Whiskey barrels is that they provide a story in every barrel. If you didn't know, Light Whiskey is distilled higher than bourbon, usually around 160 proof. The whiskey is then aged in used barrels. Because of the timeline on these barrels, they were distilled a few years after J.E. Seagrams & Sons sold off its beverage assets. Making the perfect evolution for bourbon barrels from DSP-KY-8.

Last year, we described the profile of our 20-year American Light Whiskey release as "unmatched". We had no way of knowing at the time that there was another round to come. The concentration of flavor in a barrel over 2+ decades of aging results in deep fruit notes. The richness of the fruit and cane sugar notes is balanced by a touch of pepper and dark chocolate. I've often referred to Light Whiskey as high-proof vanilla frosting. But the nuance and additional flavor elevate the traditionally singular flavor profile. Plus, there's a bit of magic going on with these barrels. Nothing this proof should be this approachable. The alcohol integration in the whiskey is incredible. They drink far below their hazmat label.

Dried pineapple, green apple, and maraschino cherry begin the nose bright and crisp as it moves into rich caramel syrup, cigar box, and sweet oak.

The palate is syrupy yet effervescent, giving rich cola and cane sugar notes before flecks of black raspberry chip ice cream and toffee.

The finish masks much of the proof as white pepper and pineapple soft serve ice cream linger semi-buttery on the palate before a slightly tingly continuation of blue raspberry candy and overproof rum.