Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey

Sweet and smooth

Nose of captain crunch cereal sweetness drizzled with honey Palate is chocked full of spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, black pepper but they all have a rounded off gentle touch Finish is also medium to long in length with the same spices following through to the end with a tingle Very unique and enjoyable whiskey experience

To be honest, I am primarily a bourbon drinker. Aside from Forty Creek Unity, I've not really sought-out whiskey. So when I took home this bottle, I foolishly thought what I had just bought was the new Double Wheated release (Yes, it helps to read labels thoroughly, but I'm famous for letting my excitement distract me). Instead of returning it, I figured I'd keep it... branch-out a bit — and who knows, maybe I'll love it.....? Well I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. It's good. But for a $69 bottle, I had higher hopes for, and higher expectations from, this Old Elk whiskey. I like wheated bourbons, so I thought this would impress me more. It's got the burn and the spicy smoke I get from many Bourbons. But I'm just not getting much more than that. Maybe I'll have a different take after my second pour. If I do, I'll come back with edits. If not, my rating stands and it'll have proven a "live and learn" experience: I like bourbon(!).

Great balance of sweet and spicy. Earthy nose, and the taste starts out both woody and sweet but then I'm picking up a wintery vanilla chai that settles into quite a bit of heat in the finish. Nice complexity but could be a bit smoother. Edit: I like this a little less on subsequent tastings. The finish is kind of bitter and grassy. I'm getting a licorice taste now too.

Vanilla, toasted coconut, decent spice, slight wood