Old Elk Cognac Finish Bourbon Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Undisclosed, but likely Midwest Grain Products (MGP). Produced and bottled by Old Elk.
• MASH BILL: 51% Corn | 15% Rye |34% Malted Barley
• AGE: Minimum five years followed by ten months in cognac casks
• YEAR: 2023
• PROOF: 109.7 (54.85% ABV)
• MSRP: $89.99
• BUY ONLINE: Widely available online

STEVE’S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan, especially those appreciative of a nicely finished bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE: Absolutely.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: There are days when I think, “I’m finished with cask finishes!” and then there are days when cask finishes redeem themselves. Old Elk Cognac Cask Finish did that recently when I tasted it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a cask finish you want to send to whiskey makers who can’t seem to achieve the balance of used casks and new whiskey like master distiller Greg Metze does here.

The nose on this is simply beautiful, floral (purple Iris for me), fruity, bready, and oaky, truly expressive of the grape distillate imprinted forever in the staves of this used Limousin cask. Leave the glass alone for a few minutes and return to find aromas of sliced red apple, cooked pear, warm caramel, graham cracker and cotton candy–a truly delightful nose!

On the palate comes buttercream, grape distillate, oak and chocolate babka all delivered in silken waves attributable to the bourbon’s high malt content. These are times when reviewers say, “One hundred milliliters aren’t enough to enjoy this sample fully.” It’s a dandy.

BRAND NOTES

Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon: 109.7 proof, Five Year 54% corn/34% malted barley/15% rye straight bourbon, ten month finish in 72 gallon Limousin oak Cognac casks

Nose – Somewhat bright on the nose, but with a very mild finish.  There are classic bourbon notes of oak and caramel rise out of the glass.  With some time and swirling there’s a background of grape and a twist of funky oak and leather.

Taste – Rounded and balanced.  The Cognac finish is noticeable, but only just.  There are some layers of fruit and a hint of leather, a dash of nuttiness, and a medium oak backbone.

Finish – Fairly straightforward and a shorter finish here.  Perhaps medium length finish.  Where I would expect to find a funkier and brandy-forward evolution, it’s more along the lines of a five (ish) year bourbon that has just a gentle influence.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.