Old Elk 8 Year Old Single Barrel #2053 Total Wine Exclusive Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2023) 75cl
Our high-malt bourbon pioneers a new style, broadening horizons for whiskey lovers. With four times more malt than a typical bourbon, it spotlights delicate subtlety while supporting a classic profile of vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice. Already unique as our signature recipe, this bourbon takes on added dimensions of complexity as a single barrel offering.
Mashbill: 51% Corn, 34% Malted Barley, 15% Rye
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Very sweet. The nose comes off like a bowl of Frosted Flakes cereal was just poured. There’s notes of cinnamon, oak spice and caramel latte. The nose leans a bit on the softer side than most bourbon, but I’m assuming that is something the extremely high malted barley content is responsible for.
Palate: The malted barley really makes for a unique drinking experience by wavering back and forth between bourbon notes and malt whiskey notes. It’s bourbon character is shown with notes of oak spice, peppercorns and caramel chips but the malt whiskey side softens things up with flavours of Malt-O-Meal hot cereal, table syrup and cinnamon stick.
Finish: A darker more robust impact that seems different from the light and sweet notes I have experienced up to this point. Seasoned oak, espresso grounds and wet tobacco give it a rich, flavourful note to linger on while rye notes of cinnamon and cloves add a nice zing for complexity
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 flavor 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 startup. (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.
*please allow 14-18 days for delivery of this product
57.15% ABV
75cl
