Batches 4 and 5 of Old Carter Bourbon have arrived on shelves in time for spring.
Batch 4 is notably the first high-rye blend from the Carters, clocking in at 116.8 proof with only 1997 bottles in existence. Just 1648 bottles of Batch 5, with a more traditional rye bourbon mash bill, were bottled at 115.1 proof. Both very small batches are made up of less than a dozen barrels each, all sourced from Indiana.
Batch 4 is decidedly spring-inspired, with only 11 barrels in the mix. “[Batch 4] has beautiful aromatics of spring meadows, wildflowers and dried apricot that dive into cinnamon, spice, caramel and maple on the palate, and rye driven flavors come forward but stay balanced through the round finish,” say tasting notes from the Carters.
Batch 5 wasn’t planned to be released at the same time as 4, but when the barrels are ready, they’re ready. The Carters chose just 8 barrels of high-corn bourbon to blend for this batch.
“We had the barrel samples just to check out where they were at and discovered that they were singing and ready to go!” says Old Carter Proprietress Sherri Carter. “We call this a smoked toffee bomb! Creme brulee nose with sweet caramelized orange peel, graham crackers and buttery bakery with stone fruit make way to a rich, creamy oak center that takes you through a long lush finish. A deep layered pour of sweet sinful goodness!”
As with all offerings from Old Carter, these blends are limited edition, barrel proof expressions that won’t ever be replicated. Mark and Sherri Carter, who helped found the Kentucky Owl brand in 2014, founded Old Carter in 2018 as a home for rare, barrel-strength blends of bourbon, rye, and American whiskey that they create to be bold and unique. We can expect to see a few more blends from the Carters in 2020, although as Batch 5 taught us, we never know when.
Look for Old Carter Bourbon Batch 4 and 5 on shelves in Kentucky, California, and around D.C. for around $200 each.
