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Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend, released in November 2022, is the second annual release from Old Elk Master Distiller Greg Metze’s Infinity Blend Series. It follows the release of Old Elk’s 2021 Infinity Blend, which went on to win the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend is a blend of three Old Elk whiskeys as well as two Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. The age and percentage of each of the individual whiskeys used in the crafting of the 2022 release include the following:
- 52% Old Elk Wheat Whiskey, aged 7 years
- 6% Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged 12 years
- 9% Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged 13 years
- 15% Old Elk Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged 7 years
- 18% Old Elk 2021 Infinity Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies
As stated on Old Elk Distillery’s website, The Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend is the latest, limited expression that’s been “designed for the whiskey lover who seeks novel flavors and unforgettable tasting experiences.”
Greg Metze, who has been Old Elk Distillery’s Master Distiller since 2016, has over 40 years of whiskey industry experience. Before joining the Old Elk team, Metze worked for Seagrams Distillery of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Seagrams eventually became MGP, where Metze worked for 38 years, honing his craft by developing multiple types of whiskey as well as gin and vodka.
Metze created the Infinity Blend Series as a way to essentially capture in a bottle his four decades long whiskey crafting passion and experience. “I am very proud of this limited release of the Infinity Blend. Within this bottle are some of my favorite whiskies, culminating in this custom blend I am honored to share with whiskey lovers across the country,” said Metze in a prepared statement. “This blend is truly crafted according to what I really enjoy in a flavor profile. It melds the rich, smooth attributes of Old Elk Bourbon with exceptional maturity notes and the classic profiles of Kentucky Bourbon, transcending innovation, time and tradition.”
Bottled at 114.1 proof, the 2022 Old Elk Infinity Blend was made available nationally for a limited time from select retailers in the U.S. with a suggested retail price around $150 per 750 ml bottle.
Tasting Notes: Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend
Vital Stats: 114.1 proof (57.05% ABV), 750 ml bottle MSRP $149.99.
Appearance: Chestnut/oloroso sherry.
Nose: On the nose are warm baking spices followed by notes of caramel, mature toasted oak, green bell pepper, malted barley, and spicy honey–reminiscent of what Red Hot candies dipped in honey might taste like.
Palate: The palate offers a wide range of flavors including notes of cherries and raspberries, sweet tobacco, red apple, burnt orange peel, along with notes of caramel, butter, and black pepper on the middle palate, and sunsweet raisins and smoky roasted nuts on the back end.