Old Elk 8 Year Old Single Barrel #2053 Total Wine Exclusive Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2023) 75cl
Where Old Elk's flagship 10-Year Straight Bourbon leans on an unusually high proportion of malted barley, this sibling release takes the opposite, equally distinctive path: a boldly wheated bourbon built with 45% wheat content, informed directly by Old Elk's own deep experience crafting wheat whiskey. "It showcases the depth of a grain-forward philosophy and strong commitment to long-term aging," the distillery's own team explains, and after a full decade of patient maturation, that grain-forward ambition has had real time to pay off. The mash bill runs 51% corn, 46% wheat, and 3% malted barley — a genuinely elevated wheat proportion for the category, well beyond what most wheated bourbons typically carry. That wheat content is specifically credited with highlighting the corn's own natural sweetness while contributing soft vanilla notes drawn out from the barrel — the result, per the distillery, is "a smooth and elevated profile" built on ten years of careful aging rather than a quick, easy blend.
This bourbon launched July 28, 2026, as part of Old Elk's newly introduced 10-Year Collection — the first major new release for the distillery since Middle West Spirits, one of North America's largest independently owned distilleries, acquired Old Elk in May 2025.
Luis Gonzalez, Middle West's CCO, framed the entire collection's ambition plainly: "we're excited to launch these whiskies with a very strong age statement. Through this 10-year collection, we can offer a line of whiskies with exceptional quality while maintaining accessibility, something truly rare in the industry." Bottled at52.5% ABV / 105 proof, this wheated bourbon arrives alongside a companion 10-Year-Old Straight Bourbon and 10-Year-OldStraight Wheat Whiskey — three genuinely distinct expressions of Old Elk's grain-driven house philosophy, all released together for the first time under the distillery's new ownership.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Expect soft vanilla notes drawn from a full decade in the barrel, with the elevated wheat content highlighting genuine corn sweetness underneath.
Palate: Smooth and elevated, reflecting Old Elk's deep grain-forward wheat whiskey expertise applied directly to a bourbon recipe. The46% wheat content softens the profile considerably relative to more traditional, rye-forward bourbon styles.
Finish: A smooth, well-rounded close built on ten years of patient maturation — genuinely elevated rather than simply approachable, reflecting the distillery's stated commitment to long-term aging.
About Old Elk
Founded in 2013 by Curt Richardson, Old Elk is a relatively young distillery out of Colorado. Richardson wanted to make an innovative, quality spirit and didn’t want to start with a mashbill that has been seen before – so he contacted Greg Metze, a distiller with forty years in the distilled spirits business (and current reigning Master Distiller of 2024). Together, Richardson and Metze created a unique mash bill that would eventually become the signature Blended Straight Bourbon.
“Quiet on purpose” is a common theme — speak softly and carry a big flavour profile, if you will. That concept of quietly powerful energy is what led them to choose the name they did for their distillery
The vision of Old Elk is to make the highest quality product at the same scale of the large distilleries but keep the spirit of a start-up. (And if my years of working in corporate America have taught me anything, it’s that this is harder than it sounds.) For Richardson and Metze, it means focusing on quality over efficiency and taking chances on challenging mashbills.
In 2013, Curt Richardson, known for founding the successful Otterbox company, revived the Old Elk brand. His vision was to create a high-quality bourbon that combined traditional methods with innovative production techniques. Richardson collaborated with master distiller Greg Metze, who brought over four decades of experience in the spirits industry to the project. Together, they developed a unique mash bill that emphasizes a higher malted barley content, resulting in a smoother and sweeter flavour profile.
Old Elk Bourbon is crafted using a proprietary "slow-cut" proofing method, which involves gradually adding water to the bourbon over an extended period. This technique helps preserve the rich flavours that can be lost in traditional, faster proofing methods. Although Old Elk currently sources its distillate from various distilleries, the company is in the process of building its own distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado, where it plans to produce bourbon exclusively in the future.
Since its revival, Old Elk has quickly gained popularity, surpassing 100,000 cases sold and becoming available in all 50 states. The brand has earned acclaim for its quality and innovative approach, appealing to bourbon enthusiasts and collectors alike.
In summary, Old Elk Bourbon's journey from its historical roots in Kentucky to its modern revival in Colorado showcases a commitment to quality and innovation, making it a notable player in the craft bourbon market.
51.5% ABV
75cl
