Old Elk Straight Bourbon Cognac Cask Finish is a 109.7-proof bourbon aged a minimum of five years and finished for 10 months in 72-gallon French Limousin cognac casks. It has a mash bill of 51% corn, 34% barley and 15% rye. The whiskey is part of Old Elk's Cask Finish Series, which launched in 2021 and includes other finishes like Port and Rum Cask.
Neither the wheat or the cognac are overpowering each other and while not the most powerful or complex, it’s totally pleasant and a unique look at a mash bill we don’t often see finished.
I personally enjoyed the port finish a touch more than this cognac finish, but I recommend exploring both if you already have an affinity for Old Elk's bourbon.
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House Review
Nose:
Big and sweet on the nose, vanilla cream, Nilla wafer cookies, light tobacco, some pepper, light stone fruit and a hint of cinnamon. Pleasant and sweet.
Taste:
Moderate mouthfeel, light oak on the palate. Rich toffee, tobacco, vanilla bean and some caramel and cracked pepper. Lightly tannic on the back palate, notes of tobacco and date fruit as well.
Finish:
Pleasant finish that’s pepper driven, a touch bitter, and full of cream and brûlée.
Overall:
This is a nice pour! Neither the wheat or the cognac are overpowering each other and while not the most powerful or complex, it’s totally pleasant and a unique look at a mash bill we don’t often see finished.
Score:
85
By T8ke
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources