Old Carter 12 Year Straight American Whisky Batch 1 (2018 Release)

I had intended to stop tasting until the weekend, but this bottle found its way home with me, and I wanted to get some initial impressions down as soon as possible. Additionally... I'm quite eager to try it. Full disclosure: I have no idea what this is, other than it's whisky and is 12 years old with a proof of 134.9. Nose - A significant alcohol presence hits here. This is quite unique. There's a grape/plum-like fruitiness alongside good American oak, and I suspect some vanilla. Adding water reveals that butterscotch note I detect in the flavor profile. It remains intensely fruity. Taste - The flavor is dominated by butterscotch, followed by a fruity, complex oak finish. Wow... this is remarkable. I'm picking up a pleasant tobacco note (perhaps influenced by smoking cigars this weekend), a touch of leather, and I'm convinced there's a flavor reminiscent of some kind of soda – it's fruity and vanilla. Then, some nutty notes emerge. I'm genuinely impressed with this. Their rye (batch 2) is decent, and their bourbon (batch 2) was quite good but felt a bit young to me. This expression surpasses both of those. Significantly so, but it really depends on whether you enjoy butterscotch and oak flavors.

Aroma - apples, pepper, oak, leather, really awesome nose. Taste - first sip and it’s mind blowing. Just a super decadent beverage. Lots of sweet notes cut out all the heat. Layers upon layers of caramel and vanilla. Tons of mixed berries… blueberries, blackberries come to mind. Creamy finish. Dammit this is amazing. Complexity is insane. Damn. This is just an unreal whiskey. At 67.45% ABV it drinks like it’s 50% ABV. Massive thanks to a friend for providing the sample. Had a Willet 25 year many years ago and that was my all time favorite… this offering is just as memorable.

This expression presents an amazing aroma of significant fruit, vanilla, and rye spice, with a dark caramel hue. The palate is superb, featuring smooth clove and spearmint with a whisper of black pepper, leading to a prolonged, satisfying finish. The 117 proof is ideal for this bottling. This is another outstanding offering from the carters, confirming Old Carter as a top-tier selection.

Worth trying if you get the opportunity. You rarely encounter a whiskey with this much flavor at this alcohol content. It's dangerously drinkable. Fruity on the nose and palate. Notes of brown sugar and figs.

The nose is enticingly full of butterscotch. The palate displays considerable oak, feeling somewhat drying, yet it's quite pleasant, concluding with a moderately lengthy finish.

Spicy, with a prominent rye flavor, brown sugar, and oak candy. Also has notes of figs and grape skins, finishing with butterscotch.