Old Elk Double Wheat Straight Whiskey (2022 release)
Mike Rosen

World

July 24, 2023

From a 10-year-old distillery in Fort Collins Colorado, is a release from the Old Elk Master’s Blend Series created by master distiller, Greg Metze. Though Old Elk creates their own distillate, most of Old Elk’s selections are still contract distilled at MGP. For those who don’t know, Greg Metze spent 38 years of his career as the master distiller at MGP. While he was still employed at MGP, Metze created Old Elk’s high malted barley bourbon mash bill and many of the famous mash bills that MGP still uses today. As Old Elk’s website describes it, “Double Wheat combines two of Old Elk’s most beloved and awarded wheater whiskeys: Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey and Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Thus creating an entirely unique pour. This is a merger for the more, yielding a higher proof (107.1) and a brighter profile whiskey in which a whole new category begs to be crafted”.

I became a fan of Old Elk’s wheated bourbon after Jay West’s first Old Elk “Cosmic Wheat” single barrel selection. Since then, I’ve liked other bourbons that use MGP’s 45% wheat mash bill, and wheat whiskeys that use MGP’s 95% wheat mash bill. Let’s get to it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Old Elk Distillery.

Master’s Blend Series: 2022 Release.

Proof: 107.1.

Age: 6-year Old Elk Wheated Bourbon and 6, 7 & 8-year Old Elk Wheat Whiskey.

Mash bill: 71.5% Wheat, 25% Corn, 3.5% Malted Barley.

Price: $98.00 Local.

Appearance: Golden amber.

Nose

Crème Brule, maple, coffee bean, dark chocolate, dates, lemon citrus, slight dill and clove, wheat bread, allspice, and oak. This is the Old Elk wheated profile that I love with a bonus of chocolate and coffee I haven’t experienced with Old Elk wheated bourbon. With more sips, the crème brulé, maple, and dark chocolate become more concentrated.

Palate

The nose duplicates the palate with a healthy dose of crème brulé and dark chocolate with dates, apricot, and lemon citrus with a touch of dill, clove, and a very good mouthfeel. The allspice is very well-balanced and never overshadows the other flavors but builds through the finish. I love the flavor and treatment of the oak too. Though you know it’s there the whole time, it doesn’t draw attention to itself until the finish. This is a very delicious and flavorful easy sipper.

Finish

Allspice with coffee bean, chocolate, and cloves linger with oak focusing on the front and lower palate. After quite a while, oak turns to tannins of leather and tobacco with chocolate coming around again to close out this very long-lasting finish.

Conclusion

I remember the first pour being very good with a similar profile to the wheated bourbon, but I wasn’t sure if I liked it as much. I didn’t take notes at the time and thought I would get back to it soon. A year later, here I am. After a few more pours Old Elk Double Wheat is much better than I remembered. I like it even more than the Old Elk wheated bourbon in some ways, but not in every way. The double wheat whiskey is somewhat more complex, having more dark chocolate, coffee, and herbal notes. The Old Elk single barrel wheated bourbon has a sweeter dessert-like profile with more caramel, stone fruit, and a thicker mouthfeel. In the end, each of these bottles offers a different and very delicious experience in its own way. That’s saying a lot considering I’ve been comparing this 107.1 proof wheat whiskey to a 116 proof single barrel bourbon this whole time.

I wouldn’t describe Old Elk Double Wheat as a great value, but all things considered, I don’t think its price is far-fetched either. Especially since Old Elk’s wheated 7-year single barrel bourbons are in the same price range. If Old Elk creates a 2023 Double Wheat release, I hope they don’t raise the price. Old Elk Double Wheat offers a more complex profile than what I found in the wheated bourbon, yet similar enough to keep fans of Old Elk’s wheated bourbon very happy.

Rating: 7.8/10.

 

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.

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