Old Elk 10 Year Wheated Bourbon (2026)

MSRP: $69.99

Mash: 51% corn, 46% wheat, 3% malted barley

Proof: 105

Age: 10 years

Nose: brown butter sweetness, honeycomb, bit of tobacco, barrel char, molasses and just a whisp of milk chocolate

Palate: the proof doesn't exist, it's just flavor. Perfectly balanced but complex with oak and leather, cherry and plum, brown sugar, dried tobacco, and peppery spice, all met with a butter like oily mouthfeel

Finish: longer end of medium with cherry, oak and leather

Rating: Hoard it (Out of Hoard, Buy, Try, Pass)

Thoughts: wow wow wow, what a way to come back. I really liked the 10yr wheat whiskey, but this wheated bourbon is the best shelf product to ever have the Old Elk name on it. It is truly an excellent wheated bourbon. I almost wish they did 107 proof just for the call out, as this is easily the new king of shelfer wheated bourbons 12 years or less. This deserves to fly off shelves like Old Forester 1910 when it first came out. If you see this, buy this. Period. It balances sweet with earthiness and some age beautifully.

What's the Deal?: Old Elk was bought out by Middle West and disappeared almost as quick as the sale was announced. Nobody knew what the future held for the brand, and nobody knew what would happen to the whiskey itself. The announcement of this 10 Year collection as the return of Old Elk was a welcome surprise. The whiskey was older, and cheaper. I'm still not entirely sure what the future holds for Old Elk, but this is definitely a step in the right direction, and one to be very excited about.

This sample was provided to me free of charge for an unbiased and honest review

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