A 10-year-old, 105-proof bourbon that brings classic mature MGP character alongside an unexpected streak of grapefruit and malted barley.
Stats
- Type: Straight Bourbon
- Age: 10 year
- Proof: 105 (52.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: 51% Corn │ 34% Malted Barley │ 15% Rye
- Origin: Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Additional Aging: Fort Collins, Colorado & Columbus, Ohio
- Cask: New Charred American Oak
- Release: Wide release, blended
- MSRP: $69.99 (via Old Elk)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Raspberry, cherry and blackberry gummies lead into deep caramel, mature charred oak and black pepper. A later revisit brought out a surprisingly strong grapefruit note, adding an unusual citrus edge.
- Palate: Robust and reminiscent of a double-oaked bourbon, with charcoal, orange zest and a little crafty malted barley funk. Grapefruit returns alongside cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Finish: Mature, slightly drying oak and leather give way to a lingering tingle of black pepper. Orange marmalade, cherry cola and spice stick around through the finish.
Old Elk’s new 10-Year Collection brings three distinct whiskies to the shelf, each carrying a $69.99 MSRP and an age statement that makes that price particularly compelling. The Straight Bourbon is the most traditional of the three, but its malted barley mashbill and unusual grapefruit character give it enough personality to stand apart.
At 105 proof, it also brings the most obvious oak presence of the collection. If you’re a fan of mature, oak-forward bourbon, this is probably the bottle that will speak to you most immediately.
Presentation
Old Elk continues to have one of the more recognizable bottle designs in American whiskey.
The premium metallic label is immediately identifiable, but the real standout is the wooden topper, which remains unlike almost anything else on the market.
The closest comparison I’ve seen is Hard Truth’s topper, although that leans much more toward a driftwood aesthetic.
Distinctiveness
There’s no question this is recognizable as a classic 10-year MGP bourbon, but the 15% malted barley in the mashbill gives it a little extra character. The closest comparison I can make is to the high-malt character found in something like Silverthorn’s bourbon blend, although this Old Elk still has plenty of its own personality.
Most notably, the recurring grapefruit note isn’t something I encounter frequently in bourbon. It doesn’t completely rewrite the MGP script, but it gives an otherwise familiar profile an interesting twist.
“I rarely found myself simply thinking “MGP” while drinking it…”
Transparency
Old Elk is refreshingly straightforward about what these whiskies are. The collection uses MGP whiskey distilled specifically for Old Elk, with Old Elk’s founder involved in designing the special mashbills.
There’s no mystery around the source or the relationship. For me, that’s exactly what good transparency looks like: tell consumers what they’re drinking and let the whiskey speak for itself.
Value
At $69.99, a 10-year-old whiskey bottled above 100 proof is difficult to argue with on paper alone.
But the value isn’t just in the statistics.
This is genuinely good whiskey with mature oak, dark fruit, citrus, spice and a few unexpected notes that keep it interesting.
I rarely found myself simply thinking “MGP” while drinking it; the Colorado aging, along with a little Ohio aging, clearly contributes to a profile that feels more individual.
Buy if:
- You love oak-forward bourbon
- You enjoy mature 10-year MGP
- You want 105 proof without jumping into high-proof territory
- You want a $70 bottle with an impressive age statement
Skip if:
- You prefer younger, brighter bourbon
- Heavy oak tends to turn you off
- You want something radically outside the traditional MGP profile
- You’re specifically looking for a softer, more approachable pour
Verdict
Old Elk’s 10-Year Straight Bourbon doesn’t try to reinvent bourbon, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. It’s a really good, mature example of classic MGP bourbon, with enough malted barley character and that unusual grapefruit note to keep it from feeling completely familiar.
Of the three 10-year releases, this is the one I’d steer toward the drinker who loves oak, maturity and classic bourbon flavors. At $69.99 and 105 proof, it’s also hard to argue that Old Elk is asking too much for what you’re getting.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A classic 10-year MGP bourbon with mature oak, dark fruit and an unexpected grapefruit twist… and a heck of a lot of whiskey for $70.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.65 / 7
- Palate: 5.25 / 7
- Finish: 5.5 / 7
- Presentation: 5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 6 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.63 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Old Elk
Founded in Fort Collins, Colorado, Old Elk built its reputation around unconventional mash bills, long-aged whiskey and a willingness to do things differently. A major part of that identity comes from master distiller Greg Metze, who spent nearly four decades in the whiskey industry, including his time at Seagram’s/LDI/MGP. Old Elk originally worked with Metze to develop custom mash bills rather than simply selecting whiskey from an existing catalog, helping create the brand’s distinctive high-malt bourbon, wheated bourbon and wheat whiskey profiles.
Old Elk is also known for its Slow Cut™ proofing process, in which water is added gradually over weeks rather than rapidly over a day or two. The brand says this slower process helps limit the heat generated during proofing and preserve more delicate flavors developed through fermentation, distillation and maturation. In 2025, Middle West Spirits acquired Old Elk Distillery, beginning a new chapter for the brand while retaining its existing aged whiskey inventory and distinctive recipes
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