Seelbach’s Private Reserve Wheated Kentucky Bourbon Batch 1
Mike Rosen

Bourbon

July 14, 2025

Seelbach’s has created many releases under its Private Reserve banner, but this is the first time they’ve created a Kentucky wheated small batch bourbon. The mash bill and distillation city of origin points to Green River Distilling being the source. When thinking about Seelbach’s next release, Blake Riber says, “I asked myself a different question: What do I actually drink? What do I miss about the ‘good ol’ bourbon days? The answer was easy. A wheated bourbon, around 107 proof, with rich character and easy drinkability. It’s what I’ve been drinking longer than anything else.” Blake said that 10 barrels (ISC with a char level #3) were used to create this batch. Four of them were 7 years old, and six were 4 years, 10 months old. The barrel entry proof was 120, dumped at 111 proof, then gradually reduced to 107 over two months using a slow water reduction method, which prevents harsh reactions by adding water gradually to preserve the whiskey’s profile. I’m a sucker for a good wheated bourbon, and the description, specs, and price made this one irresistible. Let’s get started!

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Green River Distilling Co., Owensboro, KY.

Proof: 107, non-chill filtered .

Age: Blend of 33% 7-Years & 67% 4-Years 10-months.

Batch#: 001. Four barrels of 7-year, six barrels of 4-year, and 10 months.

Mash bill: 70% Corn/21% Wheat/9% Malted Barley.

Retail Price: $49.99.

Appearance: Golden caramel.

Nose

Rich caramel, toffee, butterscotch, toasted oak, cherry pie, vanilla bean, peaches, tropical fruit cup, orange citrus, nutmeg, floral, and allspice. This has that wheated bourbon pastry-like quality that I love in a great wheater, along with an excellent balance of toasted and sweet oak, fruit, nutmeg, with a moderate amount of allspice.

Palate

With a very good mouthfeel, the nose moves to the palate with toasted oak, toffee, butterscotch, pie crust, cherry, orange peel, vanilla icing, nutmeg, floral, and allspice. This is a dangerously delicious, easy sipping profile that leaves you wanting more.

Finish

Allspice continues with toasted oak, cherry, coconut, vanilla, peaches, nutmeg, and orange peel. As the spice dissipates, you’re left with cherry and orange peel as root beer, oak, and soft tobacco join in until the end of a medium-long finish.

Conclusion

I don’t subscribe to the “this” is a “that” killer, so I’m not going to say this is a “Weller killer”. But, I will say that Seelbach’s Wheated Batch 1 has a very “Weller vibe” to its profile. It’s obvious that this release was modeled after Weller OWA, and when asked, Blake said that was the goal. Compared to OWA, the oak in Wheated Batch 1 is darker, but shares similar qualities, including sweet butterscotch, lots of vanilla, and upfront fruit flavors, with a wheated pie crust character that I love in my favorite wheated bourbons. Seelbach’s Wheated Batch 1 has exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend this release if you enjoy a Weller-like bourbon profile, plus the price is right.

Rating: 7.0/10.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.

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