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Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Blend of Straight Whiskeys
Company: Old Elk Distillery
Distillery: Sourced from MGP and an undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies)
Release Date: November 2022
Proof: 114.10
Age: Blend of 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13 Year Whiskeys
Mashbill:
18% Old Elk 2021 Infinity Blend of Straight Bourbon
15% 7 Year Old Elk Straight Bourbon: 51% Corn, 34% Malted Barley, 15% Rye
9% 13 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Undisclosed Mashbill
6% 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Undisclosed Mashbill
52% 7 Year Old Elk Wheat Whiskey: 95% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley
Color: Rust
MSRP: $150 (2023)
Rich caramel | Rye grain | Aged oak | Nougat | Sharp baking spices | Vanilla powder | Brown sugar | Light honey | Rich & sweet
Roasted nuts | Light malt | Leather | Undertone of rye spice | Burnt cinnamon | Dry oak | Cereal grain | Light butterscotch | Creamy vanilla | Hints of sweetness | Nice mix of earthy & sweet
Butterscotch | Brown sugar butter | Dash of rye spice | Cinnamon spice | Light leather | Hints of aged oak | Slight heat lingers
With each passing year, Old Elk Infinity Blend becomes more complex thanks to its ever-changing mashbill. 2022 adds a heavy amount of wheat bourbon which adds its own standout influence.
The follow-up to the initial release of Old Elk Infinity Blend in 2021, the company is back with its 2022 release. Incorporating 18% of last year's blend, the 2022 release stays true to the line’s roots. The brand states that the “release of the Infinity Blend exemplifies what makes infinity bottles so unique. Like enthusiasts who blend fractions of their favorites in an unmarked decanter over time, Greg [Metz] has created this blend to showcase his legacy and supreme artisanship while also paying close attention to what voices within the Old Elk community are requesting.”
While still blending in bourbon sourced from Kentucky for this year’s blend, the overall amount is less than the 40% used in the 2021 release. Instead the main focus is on the company’s own Old Elk Whiskey, that while not distilled at Old Elk’s distillery in Colorado, was distilled by Metz specifically for Old Elk during his time at MGP. The resulting bourbon is definitely influenced by the predominant amount of wheat in the mix, yet it’s never overpowering.
The nose is full of rich sweet scents that are enjoyable from the get-go. Transitioning to the palate, sweet flavors still pull forward, however, these are balanced out with earthy undertones of leather, dry oak, and roasted nuts. The sip ends on rich notes of brown sugar butter and a nice mingling of rye and cinnamon spice which provides a light lingering heat to cap things out. While it doesn’t quite live up to the initial 2021 release, fans of this series will be very pleased. The Old Elk Infinity line is proving to be a fun endeavor, with each release being unique yet sharing a similar thread. It’s going to be a fun series to follow as each year should get more and more complicated thanks to the addition of past years’ blends, and will really allow Greg Metze to flex his blending muscle.
