Old Elk Wheat Whiskey “Notorious NOG"

Old Elk Wheat Whiskey “Notorious NOG"

Bourbon Pursuit Pick

57.95% ABV/115.9 Proof

Barrel 231, Old Elk Distilling in CO (Greg Metze)

Eye: Orange-honey, medium rim and droplet legs.

Nose: Lots of sweet wheat, hint of grain in a good way. Bready notes come next with a not-too-sweet caramel edge, like a dark brioche crust. Nose then turns super sweet, creme brûlée with extra caramel.

Palate: Tasted more like a wheated bourbon than a straight wheat whiskey - caramel and vanilla, orange zest and a bit of juice, brioche, and a light tingle. Drinks way below its proof. Mouthfeel is coating and rich.

Finish: Long, a touch hot (but that goes away quickly while the flavors keep going). Orange is elevated to the star. 

Overall: If blinded I’d say this was more akin to an OWA than a Bernheim. Great stuff!

Rating: 7.1

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)