Old Carter Straight Bourbon Batch 3 (2019 Release)

Revisiting this bottle after ten days. The primary difference from this tasting and the last is that the rye spice is less prominent now. If this is a blend of 12-15 year old barrels from the distillery, as previous releases were suggested to be, it's understandable given their high corn and low rye mash bill. Proof: 106.8 Batch 3, Bottle 994 of 1539 Color: attractive amber Nose: deep, dusty cherries, corn, butterscotch, and caramel Palate: quite rich but lighter and less oily than I recall from the previous tasting, more caramel and some vanilla, a nice amount of oak, baking spices begin to appear mid-palate Finish: medium to long with spice emerging at the end Overall, this is a great blend, and I'm uncertain how much 15-year-old bourbon is included, but it's not excessively oaky. Is it worth the $150 - $200 price point? I don't believe so. A quality barrel pick from another producer offers similar quality for a third of the cost. If you desire something closer to this probable mash recipe, consider some of the distillery's single barrel offerings, especially if you can find store selections aged over 10 years.

Revisiting this bottle after eight months. Nose: akin to immersing your head in an oak barrel. It's balanced, however, with hints of toffee, and on the... Taste: the oak is not overwhelming, but a spicy mint emerges alongside butterscotch and caramel. Finish: medium to long duration This remains a fine bourbon. Is its value $150-200, as I've seen it priced? That's for you to decide. I've experienced numerous barrel-strength Elijah Craig and Knob Creek or other full-proof bourbons that offered comparable quality for half the cost. It's a well-balanced and rich bourbon.

Batch 3: 2019 Supposedly a mix of 12 to 15-year-old bourbon from Tennessee. I can't confirm the mashbill, but earlier batches featured 8% barley and 8% rye, with corn making up the rest. Nose: Dusty dark fruits, perhaps a touch of cherry, oak, vanilla, with undertones of cinnamon and apple. Palate: Rich and oily, with considerable rye spice, a hint of more dark fruits, and additional oak. Finish: Medium to long, with more rye spice. It's surprisingly spicy, but since this is the first time I'm trying it from the bottle, I'll taste it again in a few weeks.

It's said to be Dickel/MGP distillate aged between 12 and 15 years. The aroma features dark fruits and notes of baking spices. It presents dark cherries and a delightful richness that thoroughly coats the palate. It has the ideal level of warmth and spice expected from a barrel-proof expression. I would not purchase a bottle myself, but I would recommend trying it if you get the chance via a friend or at a bar.

Acceptable. Mild baking spice but lacking in rye. Quite smooth. Subtle cherry notes. Not overly oaky considering its likely 15 years of age. A good bourbon, very good for the brand, which I typically favor. However, nothing truly stands out. I expected more for the cost. Not much that really stands out though. Was hoping for a little more for the price.

Flavorful and zesty. Robust character with no lingering finish.