Old Elk Wheat N' Rye Review
It's a lovely blend that I'm continuing to enjoy well after writing this review. In fact, I think I'm enjoying this blend more than when I drank its respective components alone. Proof once again that sometimes, 1+1 does equal more than just 2.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Old Elk Distillery
- MASH BILL: A blend of wheat and rye whiskeys resulting in an overall mash bill of 57.6 % Wheat | 38% Rye | 4.4 Barley.
- AGE: A blend of 7 and 6-year-old whiskeys.
- YEAR: 2023
- PROOF: 108.4 (54.2% ABV)
- SRP: $109.99
- BUY ONLINE: Shop Old Elk
POPS' NOTES
SHARE WITH: Folks who love wheat and rye whiskey, and those that believe that sometimes 1+1 is more than 2.
WORTH THE PRICE: I so wanted to tell you. you that this one is worth the hefty price tag but despite being a lovely whiskey, this one falls short of being worth a $100+ investment.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Remove the price from the equation and I would easily give this a Bottle rating. But at $109.99 it's too pricey compared to other whiskeys that are just as good and more affordable. At this $$$ I recommend you give it a try at a bar before you commit to a full bottle.
OVERALL: A fresh pour yields a bright and enticing aroma of freshly baked bread drizzled with caramel, chocolate malt, and a fruity burst of rye spice and green apples. On the palate, it yields the expected sweetness up front with chocolate, caramel, and cherries. The upfront sweetness crashes into a complex mix of spices with rye leading the charge. It builds and just before the rye goes menthol it's interrupted with a nice hit of oak tannins to mix things up.
There's a lot going on with this pour and I found myself going back more additional sips for quite a while trying to figure it all out. My only critique is that the tannins that come out to play near the finish were a bit much. With a little less bitterness, the front of the palate sweetness would have rounded things out better on the finish.
Overall, it's a lovely blend that I'm continuing to enjoy well after writing this review. In fact, I think I'm enjoying this blend more than when I drank its respective components alone. Proof once again that sometimes, 1+1 does equal more than just 2.
BRAND NOTES
The Old Elk Master’s Blend series creates new whiskey experiences by harnessing the genius of master distiller, Greg Metze to our deep inventory of bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys. In this expression, Greg calls upon his 40+ years of experience distilling millions of bottles of world-class rye whiskey throughout his career.
Wheat N’ Rye is a curated blend of our award-winning 7-Year Straight Wheat Whiskey and 6-Year Straight Rye Whiskey to create a masterful blend of the highly sought after flavor profiles of both.
TASTING NOTES
The contrasting profiles of these two whiskies create a harmonious, sweet, and spicy final taste profile.
ACCOLADES
Chairman’s Trophy, 95 Points | 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge
Gold | 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards
SPECS
750ml bottle, limited national release
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.