Old Elk Port Cask Finish is a limited release from Old Elk's Cask Finished Series, a straight bourbon aged a minimum of five years and finished in port barriques, bottled at 108.1 proof (54.05% ABV).
Old Elk, in Fort Collins, Colorado, was founded in 2013 by Curt Richardson, who brought in master distiller Greg Metze. Its high-malt bourbon is softer and rounder than most, and resting it in port barriques adds the red-fruit richness of Portuguese port.
The nose is beautifully balanced, with herbs, chocolate and red fruit. Lightly spiced with a rounded mouthfeel, it offers orange, red berries, poached pears and rich, well-integrated oak, and the finish has good length, with apple and red berry sweetness and a lovely hit of spice.
A solid, full-bodied wine-finished bourbon, it makes a fine gift.
Sip it neat or with a few drops of water.
Bourbon must be made in the United States from a mash of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak containers, and straight bourbon must be aged at least two years. Those rules give bourbon its characteristic sweetness, with caramel and vanilla drawn from the charred barrels.
Straight bourbon must be made in the United States from a mash of at least 51% corn, aged at least two years in new charred oak and bottled with nothing added but water.
A barrique is a small wine barrel of about 225 litres; its size gives a high ratio of wood to spirit, so a port barrique imparts its red-fruit sweetness quickly.
Port is a fortified red wine from Portugal's Douro Valley, and casks that held it pass on notes of berries, plum and gentle tannin.
At 108.1 proof the finish keeps plenty of intensity; a little water opens up the fruit.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Herbs, chocolate and red fruit.
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Palate: Orange, red berries, poached pears and oak.
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Finish: Apple and red berry sweetness with spice.
Specifications
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Producer: Old Elk
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Style: Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Port Cask Finish
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Age: Minimum 5 years
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Proof / ABV: 108.1 proof (54.05% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Port barriques
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Region: Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat or with a little water. It pairs with dark chocolate, berry desserts or blue cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is it finished?
In port barriques.
How old is it?
A minimum of five years.
What proof is it?
108.1 proof.
Explore more in our Bourbon collection.
