Ten Years in the Making: Old Elk 10-Year Bourbon

It’s been about six weeks since I saw the news of the upcoming 10-Year Collection from Old Elk Distillery. I immediately placed my pre-order for a bottle of the 10-Year Straight Bourbon. I waited, somewhat impatiently, for its estimated mid-September arrival, and the bottle arrived earlier this week.

I’ve enjoyed several other releases from Old Elk Distillery, formerly based in Fort Collins, Colorado. In May 2025, Old Elk Distillery was acquired by Middle West Spirits of Columbus, Ohio. It took nearly a year for the transition to be completed, and the 10-Year Collection is the first expansion of the Old Elk portfolio under the new ownership. The new lineup includes a Straight Bourbon, a Straight Wheated Bourbon, and a Straight Wheat Whiskey.

The Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon is bottled at 105 proof. Its mash bill is 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye. That high malted-barley content is both unusual and intriguing.

The aroma from my Glencairn offered notes of fruit — fig and pear come to mind — along with cocoa and a hint of honey. On the palate, the bourbon presents a pleasing candied-fruit sweetness. The dark-fruit impressions remain, accompanied by subtle rye spice. The finish brings more stone fruit and caramel-candy sweetness. It’s a surprisingly gentle sipper, with the 105 proof well masked and the high malt content contributing a caramel sweetness without becoming cloying.

I’d spent several days contemplating cigar-pairing options for the new Old Elk bourbon. On the warm afternoon when I finally opened the bottle, I opted to light up the La Antiguedad Toro that had been in the humidor for about six months. Though I was very tempted to grab one of the newer releases awaiting my attention, I thought the La Antiguedad would make a nice accompaniment without the distraction of exploring a new cigar at the same time.

The La Antiguedad Toro is a 5 5/8 × 55, softly box-pressed cigar from My Father Cigars that’s been in regular production for more than twelve years. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano Rosado Oscuro, with Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo binders and Nicaraguan filler from San Rafael, Las Quebradas, and San José that was aged for at least 3½ years. The La Antiguedad Toro proved to be a complementary pairing, adding its own chocolate, coffee, and cedar notes without overwhelming the bourbon or masking its flavors.

While I’ve only had a small pour or two, I very much enjoyed the Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon. It’s an enjoyable sipper on its own and offers the potential for some interesting cigar pairings going forward. After all, I still have a list of other smokes on hand to match with it.

Cheers!