Old Carter Straight Rye Whiskey 2020 Batch 5

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 Carters 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 Rye Batch 5. This batch is a blend from barrels that were hand selected by the Carters and distilled in Indiana. Batch 5 is a 115.5 proof barrel strength straight rye whiskey with a price tag of around $200. 1404 bottles of this straight rye whiskey were released.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Toasted Butterscotch

Nose

This rye has a beautiful nose with both herbal and minty notes coming to the forefront. These are followed by notes of caramel, butterscotch, and a touch of dill.

Palate

The palate of this rye is stunning as it presents explosive notes of caramel and butterscotch that carry over from the nose. There is also an array of baking spices and cinnamon present and a touch of dill that carries over from the nose. There is no doubt this is a bold rye!

Finish

This rye has a long finish that lingers in the back of your throat until you take the next sip. The caramel, cinnamon, and mint carry over to complete the experience that this whiskey provides.

In closing

This is a phenomenal rye whiskey (Dare I say the best one I’ve had this year?) It does come with a hefty price tag of $200 and was released in very limited quantities. However, if you are a fan of “great” whiskey this is one where the flavor matches the price tag if you happen across it.