It’s been a while since I have sipped anything from Old Elk. I was intrigued when the new press release for the Old Elk Slow Cut. In my mind was it a gimmick or an affordable way to get their whiskey to the end consumer? Either way it piqued my interest and the time has now arrived to see what this Old Elk Slow Cut has to offer.
Just The Facts: Old Elk Slow Cut
- Price: $39.99
- Proof: 88
- Age: Undisclosed
- Mashbill: Undisclosed
- Style: Bourbon
Tasting Notes: Old Elk Slow Cut
Nose: The nose starts very light with hints of citrus, warm vanilla and peanut brittle. As the whiskey starts to open up there a faint notes of clove and tobacco that give this dram a well rounded nose.
Palate: This is where the shock value comes in. For a lower-proof whiskey, the mouthfeel really struck me. The rich, creamy texture of the liquid coated my palate. Honestly, I didn’t notice any tasting notes on the first sip. As I went back in for another sip the brightness of the dram really came through: notes of apple/ pear show up quickly to really shocked the palate. The following sips move the bright notes fade to more of a stewed apple with a dash of cinnamon. I continued to enjoy the pour. I noticed a sweetness from the vanilla. It is mixed with baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
Finish: The finish was surprisingly long for this bottle at 88 proof. The brightness and apple notes linger with hints of tobacco and raisins rounding out the backend.
Final Verdict
Yes, I know what you are going to say. You believe there is no way a whiskey has that much flavor at 88 proof. Well, guess what? Not every pour of whiskey needs to be 110 plus proof. This is the perfect example of what good quality whiskey can be at a lower proof. I enjoyed this pour and don’t see this bottle lasting too terribly long. I would buy another bottle, especially at an affordable price point.
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