(Our wheated bourbon) elevates our portfolio and shows everything our Master Distiller, Greg Metze, can do. He brought his four decades of experience into creating Old Elk's Wheated Bourbon. The wheat allows for the corn's natural flavors to shine through with some sweetness and the barrel's light vanilla notes. Old Elk DistilleryClick to explore our complete library of reviews to help you choose your next perfect bottle.
OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON
- PRODUCER: Old Elk Distillery
- DISTILLER: MGP
- MASH BILL: 51% Corn | 45% Wheat | 4% Malted Barley
- AGE: A minimum of 5 years
- YEAR: 2020
- PROOF: 92 Proof (46% ABV)
- MSRP: $64.99
- BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com
NOSE: Wheat Grain | Bubble Gum | Floral Perfume
TASTE: English Toffee | Maple Syrup | Black Pepper
FINISH: Black Pepper | medium-to-long
SHARE WITH: Anyone who enjoys craft whiskey and fans of wheated bourbon.
WORTH THE PRICE: Old Elk is a craft distillery that currently sources their whiskey, and their prices are in line with what craft distilleries are charging. If you don’t have a problem paying higher prices for sourced, craft spirits, this one is worth a look.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Again, it depends on what your threshold is for craft whiskey. I would try this at a bar first, unless you’re okay with paying a premium for craft spirits.
OVERALL: On the nose I’m getting light wheat grain and a lot of bubble gum. Not Trident or Hubba Bubba, but Topps baseball card gum. The gum that could also be used to shim an unlevel chair, that kind of gum. It’s not unpleasant, but it has that chalkiness to it that you remember from when you were a kid opening a pack of baseball cards. I know, I know, many adults still open packs of baseball cards, but I don't think gum is still included. If you're opening a pack of 1983 Topps, I don't recommend chewing the gum enclosed.
That sweetness on the nose continues on the palate, but with English toffee and maple syrup, then yielding way to the spiciness of black pepper. It’s a pleasant hit of spice that balances the sweetness very well. A more viscous mouthfeel than the standard, high malt recipe of Old Elk is also pleasant. The black pepper on the back of the palate yields to a medium-to-long finish with more of the black pepper, but the sweetness does not return.
I’ve been a fan of MGP for a long time, and the Old Elk whiskeys that are on the shelf now are MGP distillate. They've been laying down their own whiskey for several years and will transition to that in the future. Price is always an issue for me, especially with sourced whiskey, which is why I often reach elsewhere. If you’re looking to #DrinkCurious and price isn’t an issue, definitely give Old Elk Wheated Bourbon a shot.
Learn more about Bob's whiskey preferences and check out more of his reviews…
The fifteen months Bob Bennett spent living in Lebanon, KY, as a child may have laid the groundwork for what would happen years later (something in the water…literally). Originally from Corning, NY, he grew up in a household where happy hour was celebrated every night. Surprisingly, Bennett didn’t start drinking until he was 23 years old. He quickly made up for lost time, gravitating to bourbon as his preferred libation immediately, and proudly filled the bar that was passed down from his father. In the years that followed, not only did he develop a deeper appreciation for bourbon, but began to cherish the opportunity to talk about the spirit he has grown to love. As the Artistic Director for Jazz St. Louis, Bennett has become the unofficial bourbon ambassador of jazz, spreading the gospel of good taste to musicians everywhere. It also helps endear him to the St. Louis community, which is needed, as bleeding Dodger Blue tends to rub those Cardinal fans the wrong way.
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