whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Old Elk Bourbon Review

Posted on 31-May-202109-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Old Elk Bourbon Review

Original review written May 25, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

For a wheated bourbon, this is full of freshness and bright fruits. I’m actually quite pleased with this and would be tempted to repurchase. 89/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Fort Collins, Colorado
– Distiller: Old Elk Distillery
– Classification: Colorado Wheated Bourbon
– Age: 5 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=51%; Wheat=45%; Malted Barley=4%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: $64.95 USD in Idaho

Find more information at oldelk.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with my sister, and my father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Fresh while still somehow being cool toned in personality, I imagine enjoying Old Elk Bourbon in a secluded spot in a desert canyon. Waterfalls and clear blue water refresh the soul as you’re warmed by breathtaking red rock, and surrounded in your own unique cocoon of greenery.

Photo by Daniel Hernandez on Unsplash

NOSE:

Though this is a wheated bourbon, I can detect a surprising note of rye as well as white pepper. There are fresh herbs, like lavender, tucked in with these spices, and they blend quite well with each other. I find a sugary simple syrup that hasn’t quite reached caramel status. It almost is like what you’d find in an expensive cream soda. There is also light vanilla, light apple, and freshly-cut oak. The alcohol is a small nip that could easily be confused with the aforementioned rye. It’s unique, pleasant, inviting, and I’m looking forward to tasting.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Gentle with the slightest hint of raspiness.
– Balance: I actually really love it. It’s bright, yet solid and fresh.
– Visual: Honey in color, there are thick, fast-dropping legs, with an equally thick crown.

– Taste: The softness and subtle sweetness of the wheat from the mash bill is immediately apparent. The sweetness isn’t limited to the wheat though, as there is light vanilla, and light caramel. There are also crisp apple to pair with it all, and I find it quite good! There isn’t much spice, save for maybe a PINCH of cinnamon. Overall it’s fresh with the sugary fruit, and even a bit of floral essence. The oak is gentle and unifies the flavors well.

There is next to no alcohol burn, only a playful tickle that doesn’t mind lingering on the tongue. The Kentucky chew still isn’t very aggressive, but it makes the wood and wheat pop a little more.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. A little bit of warmth sticks around for a while, but not much flavor.
– Between Sips: Wheat and a little bit of simple syrup linger between sips. I’m happy with it!

– No More: This stays consistent as I get further into the glass. Perhaps the apple gets a little more bold, and the alcohol a touch more apparent, but it’s still very good!

The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak that is a little warm, but mostly, it is just soft and pleasant.

WORTH THE PRICE?

For $65 and a wheated bourbon, I think this is probably one of the better offerings you can find. It may not be the most complex bourbon you’ve ever tasted, but it’s light and easily enjoyed. I could definitely be tempted to buy again, but I don’t feel like I’d feel like it’s a “must-have” in the bunker.

OLD ELK BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 89/100

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Old Elk Wheated Bourbon

Posted on 31-May-202105-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Review:

Old Elk Wheated Bourbon review written 25-May-2021

OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON REVIEW:

This bourbon was suggested to me by my local Liquor Store clerk as a “Newly Received” product. He said he had not yet had a pour but had heard good things. I snapped up the bottle as it is nice to enjoy a soft whiskey once in a while. While it is not a stellar bourbon it’s not bad and certainly an easy sipper as I expected. If you like a simple wheated whiskey, then Old Elk Wheated is worth a look.

OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Category: Wheated Bourbon
Region: Fort Collins, Colorado Distillery
Sourced: Sourced from MGP using an Old Elk recipe created by Master Distiller Greg Metz
Distillery: Old Elk Distillery
Mash Bill: 51% corn, 45% wheat, 4% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: Five year old bourbon
ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
Price: $64.95 (in Idaho 2021)

Learn more at www.oldelk.com.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate amounts to achieve a review portions were added to Glencairns from a newly opened bottle. The bourbon was then enjoyed neat with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON NOSE:

Old Elk Wheated smells warm and inviting. I sense sweet corn and drying wheat. Mixed with apricot and caramel apple, are faint allspice, powdered ginger and white pepper. Warm wheat bread, and brown sugared pastry provide a foundation for light vanilla, caramelized sugar, orange blossom honey, and candied pecans. The nose is simple as light toasted oak wafts in and out of the aromas.

OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON PALATE:

Old Elk Wheated tastes different than what was foretold on the nose. Yes it’s warm and wheaty, but there’s also a soft herbalness. Instead of light fruits, I get currents and drying plums. Cinnamon and clove amp up the allspice and pepper adds to the warmth. Woody, burnt brown sugar caramel adds depth, as does a bit of faint dark molasses poured over a lone hazelnut. Wood is more dominate on the palate as well. I get dry and heavy oak along with more hazy, toasted barrel char yet in the end, the palate is simple and gentle.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As noted above, Old Elk Wheated is a simple and gentle bourbon. When held in the mouth, I get a warm tickle on my tongue, yet the liquid has a creamy mouth feel. After each sip, fat clinging legs return the liquid to the honey colored pool leaving behind a nice crown with fat clinging drops.

OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON FINISH:

Old Elk Wheated has a short to medium dry finish without many flavors. It warms the throat with faint wheat, allspice, pepper and burnt woody caramel. And after each sip, dry heavy oak char fades away.

MY RATING: 87/100

Would I buy this whiskey again? YES
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OLD ELK WHEATED BOURBON TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Booker’s 2021-01 Donohoe’s Batch Review

Posted on 24-May-202127-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Booker’s 2021-01 Donohoe’s Batch Review

Original review written May 18, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

If you like grain, wood, and earth, this may just be the bourbon for you. While I like it, I don’t think it matches my profile quite right and likely will not be repurchasing. 84/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs., 11 months, 4 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.65% (125.3 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho

– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Donohoe’s Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 4 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
47%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
16%: 2nd floor of 9-story WH H
16%: 4th floor of 7-story WH X
9%: 5th flor of 7-story WH X
8%: 6th floor of 9-story WH H
4%: 6th floor of 7-story WHL

Find more information at bookersbourbon.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with my sister, and my father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon I could see enjoying on a crisp morning in the middle of a field, surrounded by rolled straw bales and dewy grass. It’ll warm you up and match the grittiness and rawness of the the earth surrounding you.

Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash

NOSE:

The classic Booker’s nuttiness is apparent on the first inhale, with salted peanuts being the most dominant. Roasted corn and sun-dried corn husks back up the peanuts and make the whole aroma seem that much more warm and rich. There is also wood too, but it seems more like a sturdy forest pine as opposed to oak. In this sense, it really smells like mountain air, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. I get some accompanying char with this also for an extra layer of heat. Not much fruit or spice to speak of, besides maybe a stray raisin every now and then and some indistinct pepper. The alcohol is also quite potent and can definitely sting if you aren’t careful on your inhales.

This smells very welcoming and exciting, if not a bit simple to me. The peanuts are the hero and the minimal other noted flavors are backup singers.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: There is a rough and gritty texture to this bourbon that tickles the palate. This is probably my favorite part about this bourbon.
– Balance: For the bourbon being dominantly earthy, I think there is a good balance between grain and wood.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, there is a distinct ring, but very few legs present.

– Taste: Traditional bourbon warmth comes across the palate first, with dusty grain trailing just behind. The grain, which usually is in a supporting role for most bourbons, seems to be the strongest flavor here – at least initially. And while much of the grain I’m tasting is corn, there is also an element of straw or grass too. The specific taste of peanuts isn’t here as much anymore, but I think the husk that we all have sucked on once or twice, is. The wood is here in a stronger capacity than on the nose, though more like sawdust than pine.

Again, I don’t really think there is much in the way of fruit here. If anything, it’d be a dark, dried fruit like prunes, but it is so subtle, it’s barely noteworthy. The alcohol, however, is quite strong and definitely willing to hug if you’re not careful. A Kentucky chew burns and brings out significant barrel char and the seasoned dark fruits a bit more. It fades back to grain quite quickly though.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The heat sticks around for a good period of time and there is a bit of an aftertaste as well.
– Between Sips: A musty grain sits the strongest between sips along with the slightest bit of sawdust. It’s not unpleasant necessarily, but there are certainly better pauses I’ve had.

– No More: This does get better the further into the glass I get with the bourbon warmth expanding and making the grain seem somehow brighter. I still can’t really identify any new flavors, but I do appreciate bourbon warmth a great deal.

The empty Glencairn is a smoky oak that is equally warm to the bourbon itself. I think it pairs with the palate quite well.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on May 22, 2021 –

Booker’s 2021-01 Donohoe’s Batch Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Booker’s 2021-01 Donohoe’s Batch to detect any potential differences:

Wow, this tastes almost like a completely different bourbon than what I tasted only a few days ago. The alcohol hasn’t been kicked back at all, but suddenly, there are fruits that weren’t here on the initial tasting. I get cherries, a dark berry, and a dark stone fruit also. There’s a bit of dark vanilla suddenly, along with a simple syrup. The earthy taste is still there, but it blends quite nicely with these new flavors too. When enjoying again, I will be adding water. (RATING: 89/100)

The alcohol bite certainly took a hit with four drops added. I can still taste the same fruit that I could with two drops, but it’s slightly more subdued. (Note that it is still more than what I could taste when I had Donohoe’s Batch neat.) The warmth remains, but I think some of the complexity from the two-drop tasting has faded. I will say that I get a new element of brown sugar that comes in to replace the two-drop fruit intensity. I think I like this batch most with two drops, but the four-drop tasting is still better than the neat tasting, in my opinion. (RATING: 86/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

I like bourbons that smell the way they taste, and this didn’t quite do that for me. This is a decent bourbon, but for $90 USD, it is a big ask. If you’re a Booker’s collector like we are, you’ll likely buy it anyway, but I, for one, don’t think I will be purchasing again.

BOOKER’S 2021-01 DONOHOE’S BATCH REVIEW RATING: 84/100

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