Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey

Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey

Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey is a benchmark for others, but for us it’s an exceptional standard that we’ve achieved.

Taste this knock-out rye, made up of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley, and you’ll understand.

After distilling and creating over 280 million bottles of world class rye whiskey,

Greg Metze decided to put his decades of experience and passion into Old Elk’s Straight Rye Whiskey.

The International Whisky Competition named it the Best American Rye Whiskey,

but don’t just take their word for it, taste it for yourself.

Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey – Aged three years, no mash information available.

The nose is initially quite dusty, then developing a more floral-driven character including notes of pungent incense,

eucalyptus, and dried flowers — almost like a heavy potpourri.

The palate however is quite spice-driven, with plenty of wood informing a dry cedar box note,

dusty and husky with a hefty mix of herbs folded into the mix.

The finish is again quite drying, toasty with oak and a bit peppery, too.

It’s altogether a fairly traditional and well-crafted presentation of rye, though in this increasingly crowded market it doesn’t wholly stand out. $90

Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey (2019) – Also denoted as “Wheat Whiskey” on its label,

this whiskey carries no age information.

On first blush it’s not immediately obvious that this is a wheat whiskey, the nose hitting with a sweeter composition, distinctly floral and slightly woody.

Some red fruit and a gentle red pepper note all emerge in time. On the palate, notes of sugar cookies and pecan sandiest give this whiskey an even more fanciful body, with notes of vanilla, toasted oats, and cinnamon all providing plenty to delight the tongue.

The finish evokes sweet breakfast cereal while being informed by a gentle wood character.

One could easily mistake this for a sweeter style of bourbon — which may be either a good or a bad thing,

depending on your point of view.

Aroma: Spice, peach, cinnamon sugar, almost like peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

Taste: Bold spice of rye, allspice, peach on the middle of the tongue, caramel on the finish, medium oak, slightly drying.

Channeling the vast rye-making experience of Greg Metze, this expression is crafted with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley.

Old Elk’s signature Slow Cut process ensures that even the lightest flavors of this 100 proof whiskey remain intact.

Enticing aromas of rye spice, honey, oak, black pepper, peach, cinnamon sugar, peach cobbler, and vanilla cream lead the charge on the nose.

Its bold and velvety palate has more spice, allspice, and peach, culminating with lingering caramel, oak, and dryness on the finish.