Nose
The nose of Seelbach's Private Reserve Batch 006 initially features an inviting black pepper spice, brown sugar, caramel apples, and creamy oak. There is also very mild ethanol that doesn't detract too much from the beautiful aroma, even at a proof point of 131.2.
Palate
The first sip of Seelbach's Private Reserve Batch 006 was unusual. It was a little funky and disjointed. However, that lasted only a short time. After the first couple of sips, this barrel-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, aged 9 years and 5 months, turned into a hyper-rich and honey-sweet whiskey with an ethanol and baking spice kick. A little tangy. Wow! Oily. This is one of the most viscous bourbons I've had in recent memory. It coats your entire mouth. Batch 6 has a warm, leathery oak aftertaste and a spicy, peppery heat that reminds you that it's a high-rye bourbon mash bill, but without perceivable rye notes. The honey-spice sweetness is layered over the baking spices, creating a rich and full-bodied taste.
Side note: It's funny how food changes your palate. After eating pizza, I took a few sips, and the bourbon became hot and spice-heavy. A lot of the sweetness went away. This is a reminder that what you eat before a tasting can significantly impact the whiskey's flavor. This is why I like to review whiskeys when I have not had anything to eat for many hours.
Having said that, this is a very good first pour.