50 Things We Want: Old Elk Bourbon, Luxury Watches, Summer Styles, And More

BroBible | Cass Anderson | July 1, 2022

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This week’s 50 ‘things we want’ roundup includes the latest and greatest gear for guys. We taste our way through the Old Elk Master Distiller’s Collection, luxury watches from an industry disruptor based in SoCal, boxer briefs built for Summer, and more.

Old Elk Double Wheat Straight Whiskey and Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I was fortunate enough to join Old Elk’s Master Distiller Greg Metze and Beverage Director Melinda Maddox last week for a tasting of the Old Elk portfolio. Going into this I wasn’t intimately familiar with Old Elk expressions for a few reasons. Firstly, Old Elk is still relatively new with their flagship Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey first released in the Fall of 2017. Secondly, I’m in Florida and Olk Elk is a Colorado-based distiller so it’s not as if I’m just popping into the tasting room for a pour on my way home from work.

Old Elk is already well-known for his very high malted barley content in the mashbill. They use 34% malted barley in their flagship offering compared to most bourbons which have somewhere in the 4-6% range. And because they are a small company (35ish employees) run by some extremely accomplished, knowledgeable, and savvy individuals they are able to take some chances that larger distilleries can’t and won’t.

Old Elk‘s Master Distiller Greg Metze was previously at Seagram’s Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana for 38 years and achieved his Master Distiller status in 2002. In Lawrenceburg he oversaw MGP’s bourbon whiskeys, rye whiskeys, exotic whiskeys, batch light whiskeys, gin, and vodka but it wasn’t until he helped launch Old Elk Distillery that he was able to create his very own mashbill(s).

We were fortunate enough to get an advanced tasting of the Old Elk Double Wheat Straight Whiskey and Old Elk Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the two expressions in the Old Elk Master’s Blend Series. The Old Elk Double Wheat Straight Whiskey contains a mashbill of Wheat – 71.5%, Corn – 25%, and Barley – 3.5% and clocks in at 107.1 Proof. It doesn’t have an age statement but it contains a minimum of 5-year-old but primarily 6, 7, and 8-year-old bourbons in the blend.

The Old Elk Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a 105.9-proof release containing a mashbill of Corn – 51%, Wheat – 22.5%, Barley – 19%, and Rye – 7.5%. This is primarily a blend of 6 and 7-year bourbons. Both are phenomenal and if I had to pick one I’d go with the Double Wheat because it was so smooth and bursting with flavors of vanilla with some almond and fruit on the finish.

I’ve done more wine and whiskey tastings than I can count over the years and I have to say this was one of the best. It was a combination of delightful the Old Elk expressions were and how forthcoming their team was with discussing their blends, their process, and what they’re up to in the future.

Often times the larger distilleries are very guarded when it comes to any potential projects but Greg was open about working on a single barrel 9-year-old rye soon, a rum barrel-finished single barrel rye (25 barrels), and other single barrel projects they’re excited about. Definitely check them out if you enjoy whiskey. Just hit that ‘shop’ button below to pick up the Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey on ReserveBar or visit their website to learn more about their Master Distiller’s releases.

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