Old Elk Cognac Cask Finish - Barrel Pick (Breaking, Pursuit, Seelbach's)

Rating: 14/23 My day was tough. I discovered my attic's rafters are too small and can't hold much weight. Now I need an engineer. The rest of this project will cost much more than this whiskey, so I'm okay opening it and including it in the project expenses without worry. Nose: A little bitter, with some deep cherry notes emerging. A hint of what I think is malt, which is dry yet also somewhat vegetal. It's grassy with a touch of mint, possibly from the bitterness. Maybe a trace of creosote too. The nose isn't very engaging, but nothing seems particularly off. Palate: Plenty of sweet fruit! I anticipated more spice and leather. It's a bit young and lively, but it's enjoyable and fun. It's interesting because it reminds me of a specific distillery, one of the alternatives I considered to cheer myself up. The high proportion of malt in the mashbill is apparent, alongside the cherry sweetness from the cognac. There are indeed spices and a hint of creosote, but it leans more towards being fun. Faint notes of buckwheat. A significant amount of rye contributes mint as well. It's likely responsible for those spices and creosote. Finish: Lingering cherries, mint, and spices. It's sweet but not overwhelmingly so. The balance isn't quite perfect. Or maybe it's just not within the typical bourbon profile. It's definitely malty. I'm enjoying it, though it's a bit challenging. - Conclusion - It's a bit unusual, but good. The blend of styles is appreciated, and the overall drink is pleasant. I was previously unsure about a certain brand, but I like their approach here. It's at least a 14, possibly up to an 18. A different brand's uncut, unfiltered expression (19/23) is more complex and less harsh with alcohol. That one is clearly superior. Another whiskey with a specific finish (14/23) has a rich, candy-like sweetness that this lacks. This one is spicier with more herbal notes and alcohol. I find this one is more similar to the specific finish whiskey than the other brand. A different brand's 10-year-old (16/23) is more interesting and complex than this, but it does have a slightly off-putting bitter taste that makes it harder to drink. I'm increasingly realizing this isn't as substantial as I first thought. I'm finding this to be about the same as the specific finish whiskey. I think the 10-year-old is better, but not by much. The specific finish whiskey might be slightly better or worse than this. I'm placing this somewhere between a 13 and 15, and I'm settling on a 14.