I have been looking forward to getting my hands on Old Elk Double Wheat. Bottled at 53.55% abv and priced at $100. This whiskey has aromas of dark chocolate cherries, oak, Demerara sugar, orange blossoms, and , it promises genuine character.
Nose
This whiskey has aromas of dark chocolate cherries, oak, Demerara sugar, orange blossoms, and pie crust. It smells very sweet.
Palate
This whiskey has flavors of sweet wheat, with some char and wood finishes. The mouthfeel gives the impression of a younger whisky. The finish is warming to the chest, with crisp apple, fall fruits, and some baking spices that linger on the tongue with a very nice, albeit short, aftertaste.
Finish
This is a good effort; I found the whiskey to be very enjoyable and easy to drink. It is clearly well blended and pushes forward the best notes of the selected entry whiskies. However, this struggles with the marriage of mature flavors. There is a lot of sugar sweetness common to wheaters, but not so much the smoothness and deeper accompanying flavors that would really take this to the next echelon.
The Bottom Line
Old Elk Double Wheat is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $100. This whiskey has aromas of dark chocolate cherries, oak, Demerara sugar, orange blossoms, and , the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
