Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon

My experience with Old Elk has been inconsistent. I enjoyed a single barrel straight bourbon I tried, but their "special" reserve was not very good. This bottle is the single barrel wheat variety from Harper Liquor Land. I'm hoping it's more like my initial positive experience and not the disappointing reserve. Remember, as always, single barrels can differ, so your local shop might offer something slightly different. This bottle has a somewhat sweet aroma. I'm almost detecting hints of Golden Grahams. There's a touch of alcohol that comes through, almost like an astringent quality (which isn't very appealing). The first taste mirrors the aroma with notes of cereal and honey. The wheat definitely adds a smoothness to the whiskey overall. There's a mild cinnamon warmth that builds from the edges and spreads over you before fading. The finish trails off into a lingering warmth that disappears in a rather unremarkable way. Overall, this drink aims for a perfect score but ends up as an over-decorated seven. The honey and cereal notes are genuinely quite pleasant, but the slightly off aroma and mediocre finish leave you wanting more. I suggest trying a sample from your local store if they have a single barrel before committing to a purchase. Old Elk certainly shows potential, but in my opinion, the execution still needs some work.

This single barrel made with wheat comes from the preferred wholesaler: Costco! I found this one in Los Angeles, and it's 113.8 proof. Nose: A dusty caramel note, less sweet and more on the toasted, nutty, toffee side with a touch of oak. Palate: Toasted sweet oak, vanilla, and a hint of fudge. Finish: A pleasant medium to long finish with lingering vanilla and caramel flavors. This wheat recipe has truly grown on me. It presents more woodiness compared to other common wheat recipes. I appreciate the depth this profile provides and it's been a nice diversion from spirits like Maker's Mark. Who would have thought Costco would offer such an outstanding selection?

From a single barrel at Costco in San Diego. Smell: Toast with butter and dried red fruits. Taste: Moderately sweet, slightly slick, additional wheat bread, dried fruits, baking spices, a touch of citrus, caramel, and vanilla. Aftertaste: Lasting, smoldering spices alongside vanilla, caramel, and a whisper of cherry. A completely satisfying bourbon with wheat.

This improved with time but still wasn't particularly impressive. My initial impression was overly sour bitter oak, but as it opened up I detected more of the French toast notes I had heard about. It still has a quality I dislike, but I was able to appreciate it by the end of the bottle. This was a 110 proof store pick from cristys.

Old Elk 9 Year Wheated 119.7 proof Aroma - outstanding. Caramel, strawberries and berry jam, fruity cereal, cinnamon sugar cookies. Taste - amazing. The flavor matches the scent. Overall - exceptional from start to finish. The finish is smooth and soft but medium at most. Proof is spot on. The warmth is very mild.

One of the greatest aromas ever encountered. A perfect score solely based on the aroma. Sadly, that was the height of the experience. The taste was good (around a 4-star level). The finish was rather weak, particularly considering the proof. Something like Larceny offers an equal or superior finish for one-third of the price.