Most of our readers know Metze from his tenure as Master Distiller with MGP (and LDI prior to the name change). I have been wanting to try Old Elk for some time, mainly because of their Master Distiller Greg Metze. My initial sip left me feeling meh, but after waiting a week and coming back to the sample, I found it to be very interesting and much more enjoyable than it was at first pass. When I found out it was a high-barley mash (51% corn, 34% malted barley, 15% rye), the Scotch notes made complete sense. All I knew was it was a blended bourbon produced in Colorado but sourced. I didn’t read any notes on Old Elk prior to tasting it, I wanted to taste it as blind as possible. This would be a good pour if you’re looking to transition a Scotch drinker to bourbon. I get almost a Scotch note on the back of the palate, smokey and slightly peaty. A very sweet front palate yields to nice rye spice on the back palate that continues through on the finish for longer than I’d expect from an 88-proof expression. It’s very unexpected given the nose, but welcoming because the nose lacked those fruit notes that I enjoy. The minute this hits my tongue I get a big burst of Juicy Fruit gum. Anyway, it’s there in the nose of Old Elk. Maybe whiskey makers are secretly scouring the country for that candy. You’ve never seen anyone eat it, the same box has been there forever, yet one package mysteriously disappears every few months. What the hell, a hint of black licorice! You know, the stuff that sits at the bottom of the candy aisle in that one corner market in your childhood neighborhood. A bit of musty oak and leather, and a very slight hint of anise. The noise isn’t strong, and the notes I get aren’t ones that I gravitate towards usually. OVERALL: I’ve had a lot of bourbon that has a great nose, then everything is downhill from there. The uniqueness of Old Elk helps to justify the price, but you may want to try a pour before grabbing a bottle. The sheer uniqueness makes it stand out against other craft bourbons.īOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: $50 for a sub-100 proof bottle is a bit on the fence for me. WORTH THE PRICE: If $50 for an 88-proof expression doesn't bother you, this one could be for you.

Scotch drinkers that are wanting to get into bourbon. SHARE WITH: Bourbon drinkers that are looking for something different. TASTE: Juicy Fruit Gum | Rye Spice | Smokiness on back palateįINISH: Rye spice that lingers but is not overpowering MASH BILL: 51% Corn | 15% Rye | 34% Malted Barley.

Old elk bourbon pourer