PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
"The Barrel Cartel" is a genuine single barrel selection from Old Elk's ongoing single barrel program — a program the Fort Collins, Colorado distillery built specifically to let retailers, whiskey clubs, and private collectors choose their own individual barrel from Old Elk's signature high-malt bourbon, rather than settle for a standardized batch. At 11 years old and bottled at a robust 116.9 proof, this is a genuinely mature, high-strength expression of a mashbill that carries roughly four times the malted barley content of typical American bourbon — a defining, deliberate choice from Master Distiller Greg Metze, who spent nearly four decades at MGP before founding Old Elk.
Every barrel in this program is chosen individually, and Old Elk's own description of the process captures why that matters: "explore and discover a whiskey, untouched by anything but time, that speaks directly to your palate." The distillery's broader single barrel philosophy holds that the elevated malted barley content "spotlights delicate subtlety while supporting a classic profile of vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice," with each individual barrel taking on "added dimensions of complexity" precisely because it hasn't been blended down for consistency the way a standard batch release would be.
We don't have specific, independently confirmed tasting notes for this exact barrel — as with any true single barrel selection, its character is genuinely its own, shaped by its individual position and years in the rickhouse, and the only way to know precisely what's in the glass is to open the bottle. What we can say with confidence: this is a real, hand-selected release from a distillery whose signature high-malt approach has built a genuine reputation in the category, aged well past the point where that mashbill typically shows its full character, and bottled undiluted at genuine barrel strength.
Old Elk Distillery was founded in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Curt Richardson — the entrepreneur behind OtterBox and Blue Ocean Enterprises — built around Master Distiller Greg Metze's decades of whiskey expertise, including nearly 40 years at MGP (now Ross & Squibb) prior to founding Old Elk. The distillery's signature approach centers on a high-malt bourbon mashbill carrying roughly four times the malted barley content of a typical bourbon recipe, produced using a proprietary slow-cut distillation method designed to concentrate sweeter congeners rather than the sharper, more aggressive notes higher-proof cuts can introduce.
Old Elk's single barrel program invites retailers, whiskey clubs, and individual collectors to select their own barrel directly from the distillery's aging warehouse, tasting through available options to find the specific expression that matches their palate. "The Barrel Cartel" is one such individually selected barrel: aged 11 years and bottled undiluted at its natural barrel strength of 116.9 proof (58.45% ABV), non-chill filtered. As with every release in this program, its specific character is shaped entirely by its own maturation, distinct from Old Elk's standardized blended releases.
No independent tasting notes or critic reviews are confirmed for this specific barrel selection at this time — as a true single barrel release, its character is unique to this cask and has not yet been publicly reviewed.
Old Elk (official program description):
"Old Elk's single barrel program provides retailers, whiskey clubs, and aficionados a personally tailored journey through the experiences, flavors, and feels of our most celebrated whiskeys to arrive at a barrel only available to them... Explore and discover a whiskey, untouched by anything but time, that speaks directly to your palate."
Old Elk (official house-style description, high-malt bourbon):
"With four times more malt than a typical bourbon, it spotlights delicate subtlety while supporting a classic profile of vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice. Already unique as our signature recipe, this bourbon takes on added dimensions of complexity as a single barrel offering."
Specific tasting notes for this individual barrel have not been independently confirmed. The following reflects Old Elk's general house style for aged, barrel-proof expressions of its high-malt bourbon.
Nose
Expect the elevated malted barley content to lead with genuine sweetness and softness relative to typical bourbon — vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice form the house's stated baseline character, with additional maturation and barrel-proof strength likely to bring out deeper oak and dried fruit notes.
Palate
A classic vanilla-and-caramel foundation, layered with gentle spice — the high-malt recipe generally softening bourbon's typical sharper edges while the extended 11-year age and elevated proof add real weight and structure.
Finish
Warm and full-bodied, reflecting genuine barrel strength — individual character will vary meaningfully from any other Old Elk single barrel release, as is true of every barrel in this program.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Single Barrel, High-Malt Mashbill |
| ABV / Proof | 58.45% ABV / 116.9 Proof |
| Age | 11 Years |
| Barrel Selection | "The Barrel Cartel" |
| Distillery | Old Elk Distillery — Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Founder | Curt Richardson |
| Master Distiller | Greg Metze (40+ years, formerly MGP/Ross & Squibb) |
| Mashbill | Signature high-malt recipe — ~4x the malted barley of typical bourbon |
| Distillation | Proprietary slow-cut method |
| Bottling | Barrel proof, non-chill filtered, undiluted |
| Program | Old Elk Single Barrel Program — individually selected for retailers, clubs, and collectors |
| Style / Identity | A genuine, hand-selected single barrel — mature, high-proof, high-malt bourbon with its own individual character |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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