Old Elk 2023 Infinity Blend
Style: Blend of Straight Whiskeys
Producer: Old Elk
Origin: Colorado, USA
ABV: 111.15 Proof (57.575% ABV)
Mashbill: 15.3% Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend; 40% High Malt Bourbon; 43.2% Straight Wheat 7 Years; 1.5% Straight Wheat 10 Years
Age: Non-age stated
MSRP: $149.99
Availability: Nationally
Reviewed By: Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
The Old Elk Distillery was founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 2013. Shortly after, in 2016, they found an ace in the hole to help them stand out in the burgeoning craft whiskey pack – former MGP master distiller Greg Metze, who brought 40 years of experience in the whiskey industry to this well-funded start-up.
The whiskey I’m reviewing here, Old Elk 2023 Infinity Blend, is a genuine chance for Metze to show off his blending chops. It plays off the idea of the infinity bottle, a trend among some whiskey enthusiasts that blend fractions of whiskeys they find intriguing into an unmarked decanter over time to create a unique offering.
Like previous releases in this series, what’s in the bottle is a true experiment of Metze putting a little of this and little of that into the blend, considering both his knowledge and what voices within the Old Elk community are requesting. Each release, in part, builds upon the past one, with a portion of that blended into the new one. It is then complemented by what seems to play to the master distiller’s fancy at that moment.
Old Elk 2023 Infinity Blend, classified as a blend of straight whiskeys, brings into the mix matured and hand-selected barrels of Old Elk Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey, and two vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys.
What The Critics Say
• Bourbon Enthusiast: 3.5/5
• Robb Report: 94/100
• Whiskey Raiders): 90/100
What We Say
Color: A lovely brownish-amber color greets me in the glass, with legs forming patterns like the Rocky Mountains.
Nose: This swings for the fence from the get-go, unleashing aromatics of well-balanced burnt sugar, caramel, vanilla, baked bread, apricot, and baked apple.
Palate: Like the nose, this holds nothing back. Marching down my palate is a pleasant offering of caramel, nutty toffee, marzipan, baking spice, and, strangely, orange slices. Lingering with this are back notes of butterscotch and just a slight touch of oak.
Finish: This gently slides down the throat, carrying equal parts sweet and spice. A gentle kiss of sweetness continues as the spice fades, leaving a pleasant, lengthy warmth at the end.
Thinking about the whiskey and the blending technique that went into it, the Old Elk 2023 Infinity Blend showcases Metze’s prowess and his long years in the distilling world. The cornucopia of flavors plays well to the idea of the infinity bottle and what truly having a skillset like Metze’s shows is possible. There’s so much going on in this whiskey that I can’t find much to nitpick on – even the label on the bottle it’s released in is well thought out, detailing as much as possible what awaits by percentage inside.
Rating: Five Stars
★★★★★
★ Not Recommended
★★ Recommended
★★★ Highly recommended
★★★★ Excellent
★★★★★ Ethereal
Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is a freelance spirits writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering this topic, focusing on whiskey. He is the former owner and editor-in-chief of The Whiskey Wash, a leading independent whiskey lifestyle website. Nino has reviewed and judged whiskey and other spirits for publications and competitions. He is also a member of the Order of The Writ, a Kentucky fraternal organization, in recognition of his coverage of Kentucky bourbon.
