Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Old Elk
Straight Wheat Whiskey
100 Proof
Old Elk
SRP: $66.99
Review

Please enjoy our Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Review!

A 95/5 Wheat Whiskey

Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey is a 100 proof (50% ABV) wheat whiskey distilled in Indiana and aged for a minimum of 6 years. It is made with a 95% soft red winter wheat and 5% malted barley mash bill.

Old Elk also emphasizes its Slow Cut™ Proofing process. After whiskey is removed from the barrel at cask strength, it is typically proofed down with water over 24–48 hours. Old Elk instead adds the same total amount of fresh Colorado mountain water in very small increments over multiple weeks, aiming to keep the whiskey cooler during proofing and preserve lighter flavors that can be lost when heat is generated at distillery scale.

Details: Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

• Brand: Old Elk
• Whiskey Name: Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey
• Whiskey Type: Straight Wheat Whiskey
• Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
• Age: Minimum 6 years
• Mash Bill: 95% soft red winter wheat, 5% malted barley
• Distilled In: Indiana
• Proofing: Slow Cut™ Proofing (multi-week, small-increment proofing with fresh Colorado mountain water)
• SRP: $66.99

Tasting Notes – Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Moderately sweet with raspberry jam and sweet red fruit notes, caramel and tart orange citrus. There is a fresh bread note in the background, and some dark plums later on. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Mildly sweet with raspberry jam, tart orange citrus and caramel.
👉🏻 Finish: Raspberry jam and tart orange citrus continue into the finish, with the citrus lingering and the jam fading. Increasingly dry with some tannins, mild white pepper spice, dark berries and minimal char later on. Fairly long with a pleasant warmth and lingering spice.

Summary

The nose of Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey is surprisingly sweet, with tangy fruit and jam and a touch of caramel. The fresh baked bread in the background is presumably due to the high wheat content and adds a bit of body. Similar flavors continue into the taste, but the finish becomes increasingly dry with mild spice, char, and tannins later on. It all adds up to an enjoyable pour.

Conclusion

I am always a bit surprised by the flavors that can be derived from wheat. I have been on many tours where they tell us that wheat really adds very little flavor and is merely a filler. However, my experience tells me differently. Particularly at high concentrations, wheat yields an abundance of flavors. However, be forewarned that while wheat is at times found in bourbon mash bills, wheat whiskeys have an entirely different flavor profile. If you don’t have a lot of experience with them, please approach them with an open mind, and don’t expect them to taste like bourbon.

In conclusion, Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey is a tasty and enjoyable pour. If you are a fan of the style, or are looking to try something new, it’s definitely worth giving a try. Have you had it? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Review! Next, read these related reviews: Old Elk Double Wheat Review, Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Review and Old Elk Cognac Finish Wheat Whiskey Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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