Old Elk Distillery

What Old Elk Distillery does

Old Elk Distillery is a Colorado-based craft whiskey producer founded in 2013 by Curt Richardson in Fort Collins. The company develops and sells a portfolio of premium bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys, with a core lineup that includes the Signature High-Malt Straight Bourbon (using four times more malt than typical bourbon), a Straight Wheat Whiskey built on a 95% wheat mash bill, a Straight Rye, and a Wheated Bourbon. Production is primarily contract-distilled in Indiana using Old Elk's proprietary custom mash bills, which are protected as brand identity and know-how. A proprietary "Slow Cut Proofing Process" — a weeks-long incremental water addition method that preserves volatile flavor compounds — is a registered trademark and a central technical differentiator.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model combining wholesale (liquor stores, restaurants, and bars across all 50 states), direct-to-consumer e-commerce through shop.oldelk.com (fulfilled by licensed third-party retailers), and a direct single-barrel program that allows retailers, whiskey clubs, and enthusiasts to select custom barrels from five mash bills with personalized labels, engraving, and a barrel tracking system. Specialty and limited editions are released through the Master's Blend Series (e.g., Double Wheat, Four Grain, Infinity Blend) and the Cask Finish Series (Port, Cognac, Sherry, and Barbados Rum finishes), which have earned repeated recognition from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, ASCOT Awards, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and other industry bodies.

Following the May 2025 acquisition by Middle West Spirits, Old Elk operates as a subsidiary of a strategic acquirer seeking to broaden its craft spirits portfolio and increase distillation capacity. The company is still small — 11-50 employees — with leadership anchored by founder Curt Richardson, and its primary customer mix spans whiskey enthusiasts/collectors, retail and hospitality buyers, and whiskey clubs. No public funding, revenue figures, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Old Elk Distillery

Legal name

Old Elk Distilleries, LLC

Website

https://oldelkdistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Old Elk Distillery is a Fort Collins, Colorado-based craft whiskey producer founded in 2013, making premium bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys using proprietary mash bills and a registered Slow Cut Proofing Process, distributed across all 50 states via retail, on-premise, DTC e-commerce, and a direct single-barrel program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Consumer Sales: E-commerce sales through Old Elk's own online bottle shop (shop.oldelk.com) with direct-to-consumer shipping.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Old Elk Distillery is a Colorado-based whiskey distillery that produces and sells a portfolio of premium bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys under proprietary mash bills and a Slow Cut Proofing Process. The company offers a core lineup, specialty Master's Blend and Cask Finish series, and a customizable Single Barrel Program, distributing nationwide through its own online bottle shop, retail stores, restaurants, and bars.

Product overview

Old Elk Distillery is a Colorado-based whiskey distillery founded in 2013 that offers a portfolio of premium bourbon and rye whiskeys distributed nationwide. The company's core products include the Signature High-Malt Straight Bourbon (their flagship with four times more malt than typical bourbon), Straight Wheat Whiskey (95% wheat mash bill), Straight Rye Whiskey, and Wheated Bourbon. Beyond core offerings, Old Elk provides specialty and limited-edition products through the Master's Blend Series (boundary-pushing blends like Double Wheat and Four Grain) and Cask Finish Series (Port, Cognac, and Barbados Rum finishes). The Single Barrel Program allows retailers and enthusiasts to select personalized barrels with custom labeling and tracking. Products are available in all 50 states through direct online sales and retail locations. The company was acquired by Middle West Spirits in May 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Lineup Whiskeys Old Elk's primary whiskey collection including the Signature High-Malt Straight Bourbon, Straight Wheat Whiskey, Straight Rye Whiskey, and Wheated Bourbon, available across all 50 states.
• Straight Wheat Whiskey High wheat-content whiskey made with a 95% wheat and 5% malt mash bill, aged at least 6 years, noted for sweet notes of fruit and spice.
• Signature High-Malt Straight Bourbon Whiskey Signature bourbon with a high-malt mash bill featuring four times more malt than typical bourbon, delivering vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice notes.
• Straight Rye Whiskey Straight rye whiskey crafted with fine European rye, delivering a clean, crisp and spicy profile with no bite, aged minimum six years.
• Wheated Bourbon Traditional wheated bourbon expression offering a smoother take on Old Elk's bourbon profile.
• Master's Blend Series Limited edition blended whiskeys highlighting boundary-pushing blending techniques, including Double Wheat and Four Grain expressions bottled at high proof with custom labels.
• Cask Finish Series Limited finished whiskeys using exclusive barrels from Europe and the Caribbean for secondary aging, featuring Port, Cognac, Sherry, and Barbados Rum finishes on bourbon and rye mash bills.
• Barbados Rum Finish Rye Whiskey Rye whiskey finished in 14-year-old Barbados rum barrels for 2-5 months, combining rye spice with tropical and fruity rum notes.
• Port Cask Finish High-malt bourbon finished in Port barrels, with secondary aging adding unique depth and character.
• Cognac Cask Finish High-malt bourbon finished in Cognac barrels, recognized with Platinum at ASCOT Awards 2024 and Gold at Beverage Tasting Institute 2021.
• Sherry Cask Finish High-malt bourbon finished in Sherry barrels, recognized with Gold at Beverage Tasting Institute 2021.
• Cigar Cut Blend Premium contemplative blend from the Cask Finish series featuring flavors of dark fruit, velvet, and leather from older-than-standard Sherry, Armagnac, Port, and Cognac barrels, including standard Cigar Cut and Island Blend variants.
• Single Barrel Program Custom single barrel selection program for retailers, whiskey clubs, and enthusiasts, offering five unique mashbills (High-Malt Bourbon, Wheat Whiskey, Sour Mash Reserve, Rye Whiskey, and Rum Cask Finish Rye) with custom labeling and engraving options.
• 2022 Infinity Blend Limited edition infinity blend whiskey released in 2023, recognized as a Finalist with 93 Points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023.
• 2021 Infinity Blend Limited edition infinity blend whiskey released in 2022, recognized with Gold at the 2022 Whiskies of the World Awards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning quality: Double Gold 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Double Wheat, Cognac Cask Finish Wheat, 8-Year Wheated Bourbon, Wheat Whiskey
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Middle West SpiritsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025Middle West Spirits acquired Old Elk Distillery in May 2025 as part of its strategic expansion plan. The acquisition allows Middle West to broaden its product portfolio, increase distillation capacity, and enhance its position in the craft spirits industry by leveraging Old Elk's brand momentum and craftsmanship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rabbit Hole Distillery: Louisville-based craft bourbon producer focused on innovative mash bills and modernized whiskey expressions — a direct analog to Old Elk's high-malt and wheat-forward recipe strategy and premium craft positioning.
• Castle & Key Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery offering small-batch bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys with a strong experiential/tourism component and DTC focus, closely paralleling Old Elk's Fort Collins tasting experience and craft portfolio.
• New Riff Distilling: Independent Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and malt whiskies with single-barrel and bottled-in-bond offerings, sharing Old Elk's craft-producer DNA, single-barrel program emphasis, and award-driven positioning.
• Penelope Bourbon: American whiskey brand built around curated sourced and contracted bourbon expressions with limited editions and barrel programs, comparable to Old Elk's contract-distilled, mash-bill-led craft portfolio.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company: Kentucky craft distillery combining custom distillation services with its own branded bourbon and rye, a direct peer in both contract-distillation economics and branded craft whiskey competition with Old Elk.
• Blue Run Spirits: Premium sourced-craft bourbon brand built on contracted production, limited releases, and high-touch packaging — analogous to Old Elk's contract-distilled, premium-positioned craft model.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye producer with proprietary yeast strains and innovation focus, sharing Old Elk's craft-distiller emphasis on flavor innovation and award recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Jefferson's Bourbon: Established American whiskey brand owned by Pernod Ricard, producing bourbon and rye with proprietary cask-finish innovations and premium positioning — a broader incumbent in the same premium craft-style whiskey space.
• Lux Row Distillers: Kentucky-based producer behind Rebel, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath, combining contract production with owned craft distillation — a broader craft-spirits incumbent overlapping Old Elk's bourbon-and-rye portfolio.

Regional players

• Middle West Spirits: Ohio craft distillery and Old Elk's May 2025 acquirer; produces whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits with its own distillation footprint, sharing craft distillery economics and product mix with Old Elk.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/oldelkbourbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Old Elk Distillery