Old Carter Straight Bourbon Batch 2 (2019 Release)

The current bourbon craze offers many excellent, though younger, bourbon selections. This particular one carries a price tag close to $200. Unfortunately, my curiosity surpassed my irritation with the continually increasing cost of these age-statement-free bourbons. Its color and body are typical of cask-strength bourbon. It appears slightly lighter than a $60 ECBP, suggesting it's likely under 12 years old, probably between 7-9, though I haven't verified this. The aroma is intensely sweet, reminiscent of banana bread, with minimal wood presence, and the wood notes are subtly sweet and pleasant. I detect no oak bitterness, nor any dark leathers or aged cherry characteristics. However, there are some brighter, fresher cherry notes present. Similar to the aroma, this bourbon is predominantly sweet with only slight hints of oak bitterness to prevent it from being overwhelmingly sugary. It features caramel, vanilla, and a touch of varnish, indicating some age. There's also a candied fruit note, somewhere between a peach and a cherry, but not distinctly either. I also perceive a hint of custard, with prominent bready undertones. The finish is medium in length and pleasant, but not exceptional. Alright, I paid approximately $175 some time ago. Whether it's worth that price if you're prepared to spend that much on bourbon is debatable for me. This isn't for those who prefer heavy oak. It doesn't align with my preferred flavor profile of complex dark chocolates and cherries. However, it presents a very balanced, creamy, sweet flavor with little bitterness and no offensive notes. It's a bourbon that's hard to dislike. I kind of wish I had purchased another bottle, but I'm hesitant to spend excessively on whiskey I enjoy. I cannot endorse it, though; it's overpriced and unlikely to impress. Numerous bottles in the $50-$60 range offer comparable quality. For instance, many 1792 bottlings share significant similarities with this one.

This has a profile similar to King of Kentucky. A slightly more cherry-like finish. Very good. Is it worth the cost? Well, not really. But it was a satisfying pour.