Old Elk Four Grain Straight Bourbon 750ML

Old Elk Four Grain Straight Bourbon 750ML is a 105.9-proof (52.95% ABV) Colorado straight bourbon that marries all four cereal grains in a single bottle. Rather than adding a fourth grain to one mashbill, Old Elk separately distills and ages two bourbons—a high-malt rye bourbon and a wheated bourbon—then blends them after 6 to 7 years of independent maturation. The result earned 90+ points from Wine Spectator.

Quick Facts: ABV: 52.95% (105.9 Proof)  |  Origin: Colorado, USA  |  Aged 6–7 Years  |  Distillery: Old Elk Distillery

Production & Heritage

Old Elk Distillery, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, took the more demanding route to a four-grain bourbon. Instead of simply combining corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley in a single mashbill, the distillery produces two distinct straight bourbons: one built on a high-malt, rye-forward recipe and another on a wheated recipe. Each bourbon matures separately for 6 to 7 years until it reaches its individual peak, at which point the two are married together. The combined mashbill works out to 51% corn, 22.5% wheat, 19% malted barley, and 7.5% rye—an unusually high proportion of barley that has become an Old Elk hallmark. Bottling at 105.9 proof preserves the full spectrum of flavor without overwhelming the delicate finish.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe cherry and banana, then shifts into toasted vanilla and almond. A subtle undercurrent of brown sugar and baking spice rounds out the bouquet.

Taste: On entry, the palate is surprisingly light and springy despite the higher proof. Mid-palate brings waves of maple, toffee, and berry candy, layered with semi-sweet chocolate and cinnamon. Clove-driven spice emerges toward the peak, balancing the sweetness from wheat and corn with peppery rye bite.

Finish: The finish is dry, oaky, and measured, wrapping up each sip with lingering dark chocolate and a whisper of vanilla. It stays controlled without turning astringent—a direct benefit of the barley-heavy composition.

How to Drink Four Grain Bourbon

Neat or with a few drops of water is the best way to appreciate the interplay between the two blended bourbons; water opens up the fruit and chocolate notes hidden beneath the proof. At 105.9 proof, it also holds its own in cocktails without getting lost. A Manhattan benefits from the bourbon's cherry-forward character and dry finish. An Old Fashioned lets the maple and toffee sweetness shine against a single sugar cube and citrus peel. A Boulevardier plays the dark chocolate and spice notes off Campari's bitterness for a rich, complex drink.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who already owns the usual Kentucky staples
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wheated, high-rye, and four-grain bourbon styles
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or dessert
• Building a Colorado craft whiskey collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Four Grain Bourbon taste like? It leads with cherry, vanilla, and toffee sweetness, then transitions into cinnamon, clove, and semi-sweet chocolate with a dry, oaky finish. The overall impression is a balanced bourbon that bridges the gap between wheated softness and rye spice.

How does Four Grain Bourbon compare to Weller Special Reserve? Weller Special Reserve is a lower-proof wheated bourbon known for its gentle, caramel-forward profile, while Old Elk Four Grain runs hotter at 105.9 proof and layers in rye spice and high-malt complexity alongside its wheat-derived sweetness. The four-grain approach gives Old Elk a noticeably broader flavor range than a single-mashbill wheated bourbon.

Is Four Grain Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes—despite its 105.9 proof, the palate is lighter and more balanced than many bourbons at this strength, and a few drops of water release additional fruit and chocolate nuances.

Where is Four Grain Bourbon made? It is produced at Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The two component bourbons are distilled and aged on-site before being married together for the final blend.

What foods pair well with Four Grain Bourbon? Dark chocolate truffles complement the semi-sweet chocolate finish. Smoked brisket matches the oaky, peppery backbone. Pecan pie mirrors the toffee and maple notes. Aged cheddar contrasts the bourbon's sweetness with savory richness. Banana foster plays directly into the banana and vanilla aromatics.

What sizes does Four Grain Bourbon come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle at 105.9 proof.

Is Four Grain Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon, justified by its dual-bourbon blending process, 6- to 7-year age statement, and higher proof—placing it above entry-level offerings while remaining accessible relative to allocated or limited-edition releases.

Why Four Grain Bourbon?

The defining differentiator here is production method: two separately distilled and aged straight bourbons married into one. That dual-maturation approach is far more labor-intensive than simply adding a fourth grain to a single mashbill, and it shows in the layered complexity of the final product. The 90+ point score from Wine Spectator validates what the glass confirms—balanced sweetness, controlled spice, and a dry finish that avoids the cloying quality some wheated bourbons carry. At 105.9 proof with a 6- to 7-year age statement, it delivers substance without sacrificing drinkability, earning a genuine place among the more interesting American bourbons produced outside Kentucky.