Tasting Flight and Cocktails as The Reserve by Old Elk

When Dan and I hosted a Whiskey University Bourbon 201 class at The Portland Regency last spring, we met Meranne Behrends and her team from Words from the Woods, a Portland based marketing agency that represents Old Elk. When I knew I would be in Colorado, I reached out to Meranne to see if she could connect me with someone from Old Elk for a possible meeting or tour there.  While no one was available at the time, they did encourage me to stop by The Reserve by Old Elk in Fort Collins for a tasting flight with Billye, the lead bartender there.

The Reserve is a distillery tasting room with a full cocktail menu, which means that all of the cocktails are made with Old Elk's own spirits and liqueurs (so you won't get a classic Manhattan, but you can get a really interesting riff on one.)  Billye's shift hadn't started when we arrived, but that didn't prevent use from getting set up with a tasting flight.  

When Billye arrived, she made us several really nice cocktails, including The Reserve's signature Smoked Honey Old Fashioned, which she very graciously made on camera for us!

Old Elk Master's Blend Series Tasting Flight

For my tasting flight, I ordered the Old Elk Master's Blend tasting flight, which featured the Old Elk Four Grain Bourbon, which I have previously tasted, but not reviewed.  It also featured Old Elk's Rum Cask Finished Rye, which I was really excited to try since I have come to really enjoy this particular finish on a rye from a few others I have tried.  Old Elk's did not disappoint!  I also added the straight rye to the flight so I could contrast it with the finished version.

Let's get to the notes, shall we?

Old Elk Double Wheat

Blend of Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey and Old Elk Straight Wheated Bourbon which I have previously reviewed. Mash bill 25% corn, 71.5% Wheat, and 3.5% malted barley. 107.1 proof. NAS but aged a minimum of 2 years.

Nose: Vanilla, Green apple, bread
Palate: Caramel, vanilla, hazelnuts, wheat bread
Finish: Lingering molasses, yeast, mild burn in upper throat

Old Elk Four Grain

High malt four grain bourbon mash bill consisting of 51% corn, 19% barley, 21.5% wheat, and 7.5% rye. 105.9 proof. NAS but aged a minimum of 2 years.

Nose: Vanilla, baking spice, grass
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, dark red fruit, cinnamon
Finish: Black pepper, molasses, yeast, dark red fruit

Old Elk Wheat-N-Rye

Blend of Old Elk 7 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey and Old Elk 6 Year Straight Rye Whiskey. Composite mash bill of 57.6% wheat, 38% rye, and 4.4% malted barley. 108.4 proof.

Nose: Vanilla, mint, pepper
Palate: Wheat bread, leather, cinnamon, plums
Finish: Black pepper, cinnamon

Old Elk Rum Cask Finished Rye

Mash bill of 95% rye, 5% malted barley. 101 Proof, NAS. Finished 2-5 months in 12 year old Barbados Rum Casks.

Nose: Citrus, Mint, vanilla
Palate: Black Pepper, licorice, caramel

Old Elk Straight Rye

Mash bill of 95% rye, 5% malted barley. 100 Proof. NAS but aged a minimum of 2 years.

Nose: Vanilla, mint, baking spice
Palate: Mint, peach, black pepper, allspice
Finish: Black pepper, lingering stewed fruit notes

Final Thoughts on the Old Elk Master's Blend Flight

If you're an Old Elk skeptic, this flight just might change your mind! I speak from experience, having brought a bottle of Rum Cask Finished Rye home, sharing with a friend, and converting him with it. It is a real pleasure to drink and works really well in a Manhattan, neat, or on ice.  I also thought the Double Wheat and the Four Grain Bourbon were fantastic.  The only thing that held me back on purchasing them was room in my luggage for the return trip.

Billye did join us while I was still sipping, and we talked a bit about the spirits in the flight.  She definitely knows her stuff and made us a few really wonderful cocktails that showcase Old Elk's spirits nicely.  I'll share the recipe for The Reserve's Honey Smoked Old Fashioned in an upcoming post, but if you're impatient (I don't blame you,)  you can watch her make it on our Facebook or Instagram accounts now.