Burnt brown sugar | Light citrus | Molasses

Rye spice | Brown sugar | Maple syrup | Caramel | Herbal note

Brown sugar | Caramel | Lingering allspice | Extremely long

Rum Cask Finish Rye is the newest addition to Old Elk’s Cask Finish Series, joining existing Port, Cognac, and Cognac Wheated finished releases. Notably, Old Elk's Finish Series is blended by the company's Master Blender, Melinda Maddox.

Finishing this 95% rye in 14 year old ex-Barbados rum casks for 2-5 additional months brings with it just enough rum influence to cut through the whiskey’s hearty rye base. The aroma brings sweeter notes of burnt brown sugar, molasses, and an unusual light citrus. However, familiar rye spice punches through immediately on the palate, before being cut with sweeter flavors of brown sugar, maple syrup, and caramel. A familiar herbal note that leans towards grassy emerges on the backend of the palate, which is a common for 95% ryes distilled by MGP, though it fades quickly as the finish transitions back to brown sugar and caramel. As it progresses, allspice takes over and lingers, making for an incredibly long finish.

Overall, this is a solid rum finished release from Old Elk Distillery. It doesn’t lean too heavily into its rum influence though, instead playing it safe by keeping the base high rye whiskey as the primary flavor driver.