Seelbach's Beekeeper Batch 002 Is Here!

How do you improve on a bottle that sold out and earned a 4.5/5 from Breaking Bourbon? That was the challenge with Beekeeper Batch 002. Last year's release surprised everyone. It sold out fast and left over 700 people on the waitlist, eager for another chance at a bottle. Bringing it back was easy. Bringing it back to the same standard was not.

Beekeeper Batch 002 begins with straight bourbon made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. It ages for over 8 months in barrels infused with wild honey. The goal is clear: develop a bourbon-forward honey finish. It should be rich, textured, and deep—never too sweet or flat.

This year’s batch is older and more complex. It includes a blend of ex-20-year Light Whiskey, ex-16-year Bourbon, and ex-bourbon barrels. The ex-bourbon barrels were 72-month air-dried staves. Each cask brings its own flavor: mature oak, floral, deeper caramel sweetness. A well-rounded mouthfeel from the honey and seasoned oak. The result is a more complete Beekeeper—richer, more complex, and, in my opinion, even better than Batch 001.

You can always wait for the reviews. Just know the 700+ people still on the Batch 001 waitlist tried that strategy last time.