A little background

Sometimes a distillery comes along and makes waves based solely on the reputation of the people behind the brand. That is the case with Old Elk out of Fort Collins, CO which has one of the most experienced Master Distillers in the American Whiskey world, Greg Metze of LDI and MGP fame. This particular bottle is the company’s Straight Wheat Whiskey that is sourced from an undisclosed producer and has a mash bill of 95% Wheat and 5% Malted Barley.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Light tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, etc.) is laced nicely with vanilla cream and roasted pecans. The confectionery notes are balanced by just enough baking spice due to the 100 proof.

Palate

Whipped meringue topping, vanilla custard, pineapple, and graham cracker. Pecan Sandies and puff pastry round out the palate.

Finish

The vanilla sweetness continues throughout the finish. An interesting char characteristic shines through as a slightly burnt whipped cream.

In conclusion

Oh boy, this one really surprised me! I was expecting an unbaked bread dough palate that seems to be prevalent in most young wheat whiskey and wheated bourbons. This on the other hand is a decadent confectionery pastry in a glass with enough backbone to keep even experienced whiskey enthusiasts engaged throughout the dram. If this bottle of Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey is a representation of things to come from Old Elk, they’ve sure got our attention!

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Old Elk Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.