About the product
Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon Whiskey is a bold, high-proof expression specifically crafted to complement the rich and complex flavors of premium cigars. Carefully blended and finished using a proprietary “Slow Cut” proofing process, it delivers enhanced depth while maintaining balance and smoothness.
On the palate, it opens with layers of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak, followed by notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and warm baking spice. Subtle hints of dried fruit and leather add complexity, creating a profile that stands up well alongside smoky, full-bodied cigars.
The texture is rich and full-bodied, carrying its higher proof with a smooth, controlled intensity. The finish is long and warming, with lingering spice, oak, and a touch of sweetness.
Robust and refined, Old Elk Cigar Cut is designed for sipping, offering a powerful yet balanced bourbon experience tailored for pairing occasions.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Taste Notes
This bourbon is intentionally "heavy" and "dark" to stand up to the palate-coating smoke of a cigar.
- Nose Dense and aromatic. You will find notes of leather, tobacco leaf, and dark honey, followed by rich fruit layers of plum, fig, and black cherry from the wine and brandy finishes.
- Palate Rich and oily. It opens with burnt sugar and molasses, transitioning into a complex mid-palate of dark chocolate, espresso, and spiced pear. The high malt content provides a distinct biscuit and toasted nut flavor.
- Finish Long, warming, and tannic. It leaves a lingering trail of oak spice, cinnamon, and dried stone fruits, with a final savory note of old cedar and damp earth.
Food and Cigar Pairings
The "Cigar Cut" is designed to be a bridge between a meal and a smoke.
- Cigar Pairing Maduro Wrap Cigars. The dark, oily wrapper of a Maduro cigar harmonizes perfectly with the Port and Sherry sweetness of the bourbon.
- Savory Prime Rib with a Red Wine Jus. The beef's richness matches the bourbon's weight, while the wine reduction pulls out the Armagnac and Cognac notes.
- Cheese Extra-Aged Stilton or Sharp White Cheddar. The funk of the blue cheese or the sharpness of the cheddar provides a necessary contrast to the whiskey's dark fruit density.
- Sweet Dark Chocolate Flourless Cake or Toffee Pudding. The espresso and chocolate notes in the finish of the bourbon are a direct mirror to these decadent desserts.
About the brand
Old Elk was founded in 2013 by Curt and Nancy Richardson in Fort Collins Colorado with the goal of creating a smoother more flavorful bourbon through a unique high malt mash bill. To achieve this they hired Greg Metze one of the most legendary master distillers in American history who had spent decades overseeing production at the massive MGP distillery in Indiana. Under his direction Old Elk developed a signature slow cut proofing process which adds water over several weeks rather than all at once to preserve the delicate esters and oils of the spirit. The brand is particularly famous for using three times the amount of malted barley found in conventional bourbons which results in a rich creamy texture and a natural sweetness that sets it apart in the crowded whiskey market.
