101: Old Elk Master Distiller Greg Metze

We're joined by American Whiskey Legend, Greg Metze, for this week's podcast. If you don't know his name yet, you'll definitely know his whiskey.  Greg has decades of experience at one of the largest spirits producers in the United States; MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. As part of his retirement planning, Greg decided to venture out on his own and develop products for the Old Elk Distillery, including the 3 we taste through in this episode. 

• Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey
• • 5 year. 100 proof 
  • Mashbill: 95% wheat; 5% barley
• Old Elk Straight Wheated Bourbon
• • 5 year. 92 proof
  • Mashbill: 51% corn; 45% wheat; 4% barley
• Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon 
• • At least 4 years. 88 proof
  • Mashbill: 51% corn; 15% rye; 34% barley

Greg Metze, Master Distiller at Old Elk Distillery, has four decades of distilling experience, starting at the Joseph E. Seagram & Sons Distillery located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1978.  He is considered one of the spirits industry’s premier master distillers and has had a hand in crafting many of the whiskies on the shelf today. Greg’s connection to Old Elk traces back to the distillery’s inception. He was master distiller at MGP Ingredients when Old Elk Distillery asked him, in 2013, to create the signature mash bill for Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey that would bring to life the vision of Old Elk’s founder, Curt Richardson.

With full creative control, Greg personally developed a custom mash bill with four times more malted barley than conventional bourbon recipes. Many of the barrels of liquid from that mash bill are still aging and are not yet on the market. Greg has personally overseen the production of several Old Elk products. Even though he was employed at MGP Ingredients when he started on the Old Elk project, Greg was entrusted with full leadership and creative control so he can speak to the quality that’s inside every bottle. Greg and head distiller Kate Douglas developed Old Elk’s proprietary Slow Cut™ proofing process, where the liquid is proofed down over a period of weeks instead of the traditional 24-48 hours. This results in less heat created during the proofing process, and thus a smoother tasting bourbon. 

We really enjoyed our time with Greg and tasting through his whiskey creations. If you are looking for a unique whiskey, definitely seek out Old Elk.  You will not be disappointed.

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Cheers, 
Scott, Michael & Jake
The Bourbon Lens

Photo Credit: Old Elk Distillery

Links:

• Greg Metze Bio
• Greg Metze Tasting  
• The Best Whiskey Distiller You've Never Heard of Is Finally Getting His Due
• The Biggest Distillery You’ve Never Heard of is in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
• Five Fascinating Facts About MGP Distillery
• A Visit to MGP's Lawrenceburg Distillery
• 7 Great Wheated Whiskies That Aren't Pappy
• Old Elk Bourbon Embraces the Science of "Slow Cut" Water Proofing for Whiskey
• Old Elk: Fort Collins' mystery distiller emerges (2016 Article)
• Colorado's Old Elk Distillery Adds 3 New Whiskeys From Master Distiller Greg Metze