Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Review
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.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- 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
BOB'S NOTES
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.
BRAND NOTES
Aroma: Toffee, vanilla ice cream, caramel and floral notes
Taste: Cream, toffee, vanilla, toasted almonds, clove
Wheaters, come gather ‘round because this one's for you. A delicious and well-balanced wheated bourbon is something every whiskey lover should get their hands on. Ours is a chance for us to show you and the world what we’re capable of. By using our expertise in creating our delicious flagship bourbon, we tweaked our recipe and upped the wheat and kept the corn at the minimum. Our wheated bourbon consists of 51 percent corn, 45 percent wheat and four percent malted barley. The result? A liquid that allows for each ingredient to not only shine on its own, but highlights what happens when success meets craft.
Disclaimer: Old Elk Distillery provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.