A little background

Old Carter Whiskey Co. is the brainchild of Mark and Sherri Carter, the producers of fine Napa Valley wines under the name Carter Cellars. According to Mark and Sherri, “Old Carter Whiskey Co. is focused on creating totally unique, very small-batch, straight rye and bourbon whiskies. We create our spirits from the heart, each one a single expression of what we love.” From selecting barrels, creating new blends, and handwriting each individual label by hand, the Carter’s do it all. Since the first releases in 2018, quite a few different batches of Old Carter have been released, ranging from less than 100 bottles per batch to over 2,000. This review is for the 2020 release of Old Carter Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Batch 5. This batch is a blend of 8 barrels of high-corn bourbon, resulting in a total of 1,648 total bottles. Batch 5 is a barrel strength 115.1 proof bourbon with a price tag of around $200.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Burnt Copper

Nose

Nutmeg, buttered biscuits, lemon and orange citrus notes are immediately recognizable. The nose is quite beautiful and filled with wonderful classic bourbon notes and very little alcohol burn.

Palate

Burnt maple, candied cherries, chocolate, caramel, toasted cinnamon, toffee, and vanilla. Wonderful sweet qualities that are accompanied by very enjoyable burnt/charred flavor that reminds me of the toasted sugar on the top of Crème brûlée.

Finish

Dark baking cocoa, orange citrus, black licorice, and a continuation of that delicious burnt sweetness from the palate. The finish is relatively long and leaves the mouth begging for another sip.

In closing

Overall, this was a very enjoyable bourbon that was chalked full of toasted sweet deliciousness. I do feel it was lacking ever so slightly on the body and mouthfeel, but not to a level that I would consider that a drawback. As for the price tag, $200 isn’t going to be for everyone and that’s okay. I think these bottles are priced very fair and would be a good investment should you want to dip your toes in the water and see what Old Carter Whiskey Co. is all about. If I were to buy a bottle today, I’d share a pour with a friend then sit the bottle on the shelf until the colder months of fall and winter. Why? The rich tasting notes of this batch would pair wonderfully with the holidays and I can’t think of a better pour for sitting by a fire! From the nose to the finish, Batch 5 really is a beautiful bourbon. It’s also a testament to the Carter’s ability to masterfully blend 8 unique barrels into something so delicious, so complex, and so perfect for each other.