Old Elk Double Wheat Whiskey
Old Elk · Old Elk Distillery
Old Elk's slow-cut proofing process pays dividends here, delivering texture that punches above its proof class. This is a study in restraint — the wheat-heavy mash bill and careful barrel selection produce something elegant without being timid. A strong choice for anyone who wants to understand what wheat contributes to American whiskey.
Nose
Immediate buttered toast and raw honey, followed by soft vanilla and a faint whiff of fresh-cut wheat. A gentle spice emerges after a few minutes in the glass, more cinnamon stick than black pepper.
Palate
Creamy and round from the outset, with caramel and maple syrup coating the tongue. Toasted grain shows up mid-palate alongside dried apple and a light nuttiness. The mouthfeel is unusually silky for a whiskey at this proof.
Finish
Medium length, fading on butterscotch and gentle oak tannins. A whisper of wheat husk lingers.
- Mash Bill
- Approximately 51% wheat, with corn and malted barley
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Wheat Field Sour — 2 oz Old Elk Double Wheat · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 1 egg white · Dry shake, then shake with ice, strain into coupe, garnish with grated nutmeg.
Food Pairing
Warm, flaky buttermilk biscuits topped with whipped honey butter mirror the whiskey's creamy wheat character and caramel sweetness, while the biscuit's light salt highlights the oak undertones.
Master Distiller Greg Metze, formerly of MGP, built Old Elk's program in northern Colorado around a philosophy of slow proofing — cutting the distillate to barrel entry proof over an extended period rather than in a single step.
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