Old Elk Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon 750ML

Old Elk Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon 750ML is a barrel-proof, single barrel bourbon bottled at 750ml with ABV varying by individual barrel (typically around 112+ proof). Distinguished by a proprietary high-malt mashbill featuring four times more malted barley than most bourbons, this expression delivers uncut, unfiltered character straight from the cask.

Quick Facts: ABV: Varies by barrel (cask strength)  |  Origin: Fort Collins, Colorado (distilled in Indiana)  |  Style: Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon  |  Distillery: Old Elk Distillery

Production & Heritage

Old Elk Distillery, headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, was founded by former Coors executive Luis Gonzalez alongside master distiller Greg Metze, a veteran with decades of experience at MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The bourbon is distilled at MGP using Old Elk's distinctive mashbill of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye — a grain recipe that sets it firmly apart from the typical 5–8% malted barley found in most bourbon mashbills. Equally notable is Old Elk's proprietary "Slow Cut" proofing process, in which water is introduced to the distillate over several weeks rather than the standard 24–48 hours, a technique designed to preserve delicate flavor-bearing congeners that rapid proofing can strip away.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramelized sugar and honeycomb lead, followed by toasted almonds and vanilla bean. Deeper inhalation reveals baking spices, malt sweetness, and dried apricot.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and silky, coating the palate with creamy toffee and buttery shortbread. Mid-palate, toasted malt and brown sugar emerge alongside cinnamon, nutmeg, and a gentle rye-driven spice. At barrel proof, every note arrives with amplified richness and texture.

Finish: Long and warming with malted chocolate, soft oak tannins, and a trailing whisper of peppery spice. The high malt content leaves a distinctive biscuity sweetness that lingers well after the final sip.

How to Drink Old Elk Cask Strength

At cask strength, this bourbon rewards a few drops of water or a single ice cube, which opens the malt-driven aromatics without drowning them. Neat sipping in a Glencairn glass lets each barrel's unique character speak clearly. For cocktails, try it in an Old Fashioned, where the high malt sweetness holds up beautifully against bitters and citrus peel; in a Boulevardier, where its toffee and spice notes balance the bitter-sweet vermouth interplay; or in a Gold Rush, where the honey-lemon framework amplifies the bourbon's honeycomb and shortbread qualities.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring high-malt mashbill expressions
• Building a single barrel collection with distinct barrel-to-barrel variation
• Gifting a whiskey lover who appreciates barrel-proof intensity
• Side-by-side tastings comparing cask strength to standard proof Old Elk

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Elk Cask Strength taste like? It delivers a rich, malt-forward bourbon profile anchored by creamy toffee, toasted malt, baking spices, and buttery shortbread, with a long finish of malted chocolate and soft oak. The barrel-proof bottling intensifies all of these flavors compared to the standard release.

How does Old Elk Cask Strength compare to New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon? Both occupy similar cask-strength single barrel territory, but Old Elk's unusually high 34% malted barley mashbill produces a distinctly creamier, more biscuit-like character, while New Riff's traditional higher-rye mashbill leans more toward fruit and spice. New Riff carries a four-year age statement and is distilled and bottled at its own Kentucky distillery.

Is Old Elk Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its elevated proof, the "Slow Cut" proofing process and high malt content produce a surprisingly approachable barrel-proof bourbon. A few drops of water can further open the aromatics for those sensitive to higher alcohol levels.

Where is Old Elk Cask Strength made? Old Elk Distillery is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the bourbon is distilled at MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, using Old Elk's proprietary mashbill and "Slow Cut" proofing method.

What foods pair well with Old Elk Cask Strength? Pecan pie complements the toffee and toasted nut notes; smoked brisket stands up to the barrel-proof intensity; dark chocolate truffles echo the malted chocolate finish; aged Gouda mirrors the caramel sweetness; and crème brûlée matches the caramelized sugar aromatics.

What sizes does Old Elk Cask Strength come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed format for this expression.

Is Old Elk Cask Strength worth the price? Old Elk Cask Strength Single Barrel positions as a premium cask-strength bourbon, and its unusual high-malt mashbill, single barrel selection, and proprietary proofing process justify its placement above entry-level bourbons. For drinkers seeking barrel-proof character with genuine production differentiation, it represents a strong value within the premium tier.

Why Old Elk Cask Strength?

The 34% malted barley mashbill is the headline — it's roughly four times the malt content of a typical bourbon, and at cask strength, that distinction becomes unmistakable in the glass. The "Slow Cut" proofing process, developed under master distiller Greg Metze, adds another layer of intention that most barrel-proof bourbons simply don't employ. Because each bottle comes from a single barrel, no two are identical, making this an expression that rewards repeat exploration. In a crowded cask-strength market dominated by high-rye and wheated mashbills, Old Elk's malt-forward approach carves out genuinely distinctive ground.