Gingerbread | Graham cracker | Citrus | Stone fruit | Some heat

French toast | Raisin | Aged oak | Caramel | Graham cracker | Cinnamon | Great mouthfeel

Nutmeg | Dry oak | Graham cracker | Milk chocolate | Leather | Very nice

Seelbach’s is an online retailer founded by the creator of Bourbonr, Blake Riber. Seelbach’s focuses on highlighting up and coming craft whiskeys, taking a different approach than typical online retailers, which we explored in an interview with Riber back in 2019. Riber also sources and curates his own unique releases, with this latest batch being a 608 bottle release of a 9 year, 5 month old straight rye distilled in Kentucky.

Sometimes getting back to basics is just what the doctor ordered, and Seelbach’s Private Reserve 9 Year is certainly prescription-worthy. Coming in at a whopping 130-plus proof points, it drinks lower than its proof by leaning into the sweet, rich side of its flavor profile. Gingerbread, raisin, graham cracker, french toast, and oak are persistent throughout the sip, which is sure to please anyone who enjoys a high proof pour that highlights that particular range of the bourbon flavor spectrum. While this batch sold out immediately, it sets the bar high for these boutique releases from this unique online retailer.