Old Elk Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey Review

By Douglas Fraser

Rating: B

Old Elk has a distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado, but at present much of their output is contract produced or sourced through MGP in Indiana. Working with Greg Metze, the former master distiller at MGP and current master distiller at Old Elk, the company arranged to produce their own made-to-order whiskeys through MGP, rather than buying from their aged and unaged stock distillates.

The Whiskey
Old Elk Rum Cask Finish Rye is sweeter rye whiskey. There are strong notes of molasses. The whiskey is a minimum of 5 years old, 95% rye and 5% malted rye, and matured in 53-gallon, American oak barrel. The whiskey is finished in 14-year-old Barbados rum barrels for 2-5 months and bottled at 101 proof/50.5% ABV.

Color: Amber

The tasting is quite sweet throughout. On the nose are hints of rye spice, spearmint gum, charred oat, and molasses, and is rather floral. The palate continues with rye spice, spearmint, oak, dark chocolate, candied nuts, and baking spices. The finish is rather short and fades quickly with notes of floral and leather.

The Price
Old Elk Rum Cask Finish Rye can be found for around $110.