Old Elk Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey
In-Depth Review
It wasn’t that long ago that most whiskey being made in America was distilled in either Kentucky, Tennessee, or Indiana. But fast forward to 2024 and Colorado is filled to the brim with excellent whiskey distilleries. From Stranahan’s, to Breckenridge, to Leopold Bro’s, and more, the Centennial State has become the home for great whiskey production out west. Located an hour north of Denver resides Old Elk Distillery, a company that been making a splash in the national scene since its creation. Founded in 2013, Old Elk Distillery is led by Curt and Nancy Richardson (the original founders of the phone case company Otterbox) and Master Distiller Greg Metze (formerly head distiller at MGP). Bringing Metze’s 38 years of experience made Old Elk an instant player on the American whiskey scene, almost immediately releasing a lineup of whiskies that includes a core range of bourbons and ryes, cigar cut expressions, wheat whiskies, and a range of cask finishing.
Today, I am going to dive into one of Old Elk’s Cask Finish expressions – the Rum Cask Finish Rye. Taking MGP’s classic rye whiskey with a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, Old Elk ages it for 5 years, before finishing it in casks that previously held 14 year Barbados rum. Bottled at 50.5% ABV with an MSRP of around $100, this will be my first jump into the world of Old Elk!
Age: 5 years + an additional few months finished in ex-Barbados rum casks
ABV: 50.5%
Cask: Finished in 14 year old ex-Barbados rum casks
MSRP: $100
Distillery Name: Old Elk Distillery
Review Date: 12/13/24
Color: Medium Gold
Nose: The nose starts off with rose water, citrus, fresh cut flowers, and an herbal, earthy, damp moss note. It’s warm and inviting but doesn’t jump out from the glass. Instead, it settles nicely into a classic rye profile with an extra dose of molasses and sugarcane.
Palate: The palate bursts with a classic rye character of spearmint, rye spice, and more of the grassy, herbal notes from the nose. Above those classic notes lies a layer of brown sugar, light molasses, and Christmas rum cake. It’s delicate and rounded on the mouthfeel, with the heat very well integrated, making for an easy sipping - sweeter than average - rye.
Finish: Medium length finish with notes of rye bread and a pop of tropical sweetness from the rum casks. The finish fades into sweeter notes of melon and pineapple, before going dry with wood spice and barrel char.
Final Thoughts: While MGP’s 95/5 rye recipe can feel ubiquitous at times, Old Elk’s Rum Cask Finish Rye takes that classic rye whiskey profile and cranks up the sweetness to keep it interesting. Master Distiller Greg Metze has made a delicate, well rounded rye whiskey that doesn’t take any risks, but kept me coming back for more. I struggle with its $100 price point, as it strayed at times too close to classic MGP, but it’s hard to deny that you could do a lot worse for a lot more money. While its nose is classic rye, the palate gives a hint of the tropical sweetness that blossoms on the finish. The more I sipped, the more profound the rum cask influence became – leaving me with a whiskey that may not reach the $100 level of great but remains a very good summer sipper for those who want a bit more sweetness from their ryes.
