On the palate, issues are as soon as once more unsurprisingly approachable, dangerously approachable even. In reality, this is among the best consuming whiskeys I’ve encountered.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Outdated Elk Distillery
- MASH BILL: Undisclosed mix of straight bourbons together with Outdated Elk’s flagship, high-malt recipe (51% corn | 34% malted barley | 15% rye)
- AGE: No age said, the flagship part is reportedly 4-7 years previous
- YEAR: 2025
- PROOF: 88 proof
- MSRP: $40
- BUY ONLINE: Buy at Outdated Elk
DREW’S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Outdated Elk bourbon lovers. Followers of clean, straightforward consuming whiskeys. Hell, at this worth, you possibly can even waste it in your wine and vodka pals.
WORTH THE PRICE: See above. Gradual Minimize is a straightforward sipper with a formidable quantity of taste for the proof, however it is usually priced effectively sufficient that you just will not really feel dangerous utilizing it in a cocktail.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. All day lengthy. It could be straightforward to advocate on worth alone, but it surely additionally has an attention-grabbing story behind it that you may share with pals and neighbors once they come over for a pour. They usually in all probability will.
OVERALL: In case you have not heard, Outdated Elk is phasing out its flagship high-malt bourbon. That information can be disappointing to followers of the Fort Collins, Colorado-based distillery if its substitute, Gradual Minimize, weren’t so rattling tasty. What’s higher is that it is even priced just a little decrease. Double win.
Gradual Minimize is a mix of the distillery’s traditional high-malt recipe and different unspecified bourbons of their stock. However greater than that, it highlights their signature proofing method, the Gradual Minimize Proofing Course of. With gradual reducing, water is slowly added to the whiskey over a interval of weeks as a substitute of just some days, which is extra frequent within the business. In keeping with Outdated Elk, this helps protect and improve flavors produced throughout fermentation, distillation, and barrel getting old. And the proof is certainly within the pudding, err, bourbon.
The nostril is gentle, as anticipated from a whiskey beneath 90 proof, but it surely’s nonetheless layered and well-structured. And the flagship’s malt profile hasn’t gone wherever. Notes of honey wheat bread and apple strudel are heat and just a bit savory, complementing the darkish brown sugar and vanilla custard notes that evolve with time within the glass. On the palate, issues are as soon as once more unsurprisingly approachable, dangerously approachable even. In reality, this is among the best consuming whiskeys I’ve encountered. What, at first, feels just a little skinny on the tongue shortly blooms throughout the sip with silky caramel sauce, toffee, and just a little clove syrup. Undertones of sweet apple and sugar cookie proceed the evolution of taste throughout the midpalate earlier than fading gently into oak and peanut brittle. It is no taste bomb, but it surely packs greater than sufficient for a day by day drinker or cocktail companion.
BRAND NOTES
At 88 proof our Gradual Minimize bourbon showcases our trademarked proofing method. Gradual Minimize preserves taste by lengthening the usual proofing course of to as much as 10x, Outdated Elk elevates the whiskey whereas controlling the proof. After ready a few years for our barrels to mature, we’re unwilling to hurry the method on the closing step. Gradual reducing ensures we bottle each final drop of taste.
Nostril: Candy vanilla and caramel, clove spice, slight maple, and nutty almond.
Palate: Maple syrup, almond, uncooked bran, chocolate, deep wooden and coconut.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter obtained a pattern of this product from the model for evaluate. We admire their willingness to permit us to evaluate their merchandise with no strings hooked up. Thanks.
