Old Carter Bourbon
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 1.75/5
Distillery: Old Carter (Sourced)
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Company: Old Carter Whiskey Co.
Release Date: 2026
Proof: 117.7 (Batch 17)
Age: NAS
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Amber
MSRP: $210 (2026)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on Batch 17 of Old Carter Bourbon opens with an explosive, sweet, and fruity profile—specifically reminiscent of pink heart-shaped Runts and sour berries, providing a pleasant tartness. As it sits in the glass, it deepens into a rich bakery experience: buttered waffles with maple syrup, honey-drizzled Baklava, and a flaky pie crust. Underneath all that sweetness, there is a sturdy foundation of "sweet" aged oak that prevents the grain notes from feeling too youthful.
Old Carter is known for its texture on the palate, and this doesn't disappoint with a mouthfeel that is remarkably silky and rich. The first half of the sip is a fruit-forward delight, echoing Fruit Loops cereal, chocolate Tootsie Rolls, and a hint of leather. However, the real shocker is the intensity. Despite being clocked at 117 proof, it drinks significantly hotter—leaning into that "130-proof monster" territory. This aggressive heat can be a bit of a double-edged sword, as the alcohol burn occasionally steps on the more delicate flavors, requiring some patience (or perhaps a drop of water) to fully navigate.
The finish leans heavily into the dry, aged oak profile. While the proof heat is oppressive initially, it eventually settles into a pleasant combination of red fruit sweetness, crisp green apple, and pear. There is a lingering sour grain note and a significant bite that reminds you of its proof right until the very end.
This is a high-energy, unapologetic bourbon that demands your full attention. It’s a bit of a "work" to find the nuance behind the burn, reminiscent of some of the hotter Old Forester Single Barrel expressions. The flavors are nice and the complexity may be there, but the balance is skewed toward a very intense, hot drinking experience.
Given how difficult these bottles are to track down, you are almost certainly never going to find an Old Carter on sale. If you are lucky enough to find one at MSRP, it may not be worth the cost—be prepared for a pour that shouts rather than whispers.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 1.5/5
THE NOSE:
Initially the nose is sweet and fruity. It reminded me specifically of the pink heart shaped runts.
There is a bit of a pleasant tartness on the nose as well. With additional nosings I started to pick up the aged oak and pie crust profile.
There is a bit of a sour berry note in there as well.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is silky and rich. The first half is definitely sweet and fruit forward with a bit of grain, a bit like Fruit Loops cereal actually.
But the second half does bring a bit of a dry aged oak profile with some bitterness.
THE FINISH:
The finish is more of the dry aged oak, but it does keep a little bit of the red fruit sweetness.
I also get a bit of a sour grain note, and the proof really bites in the finish.
BUY OR PASS?
This drinks way too hot for a bottle at its price point, and for 117 proof. The nose and the first half of the taste really bring some good flavor and sweetness, but it’s completely countered by the rest of the sip. Not really what you’re looking for at this price point.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2/5
THE NOSE:
Surprisingly, this starts out really sweet and grainy, almost like a classic wheated bourbon.
The oak is definitely there, but it’s a nice sweet wood smell rather than a burnt one. It reminds me of buttered waffles with maple syrup or even a flaky pie crust drizzled with honey—sort of like a fresh piece of Baklava.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is sweet but pretty simple. The real shocker is the heat. Even though it's clocked at 117 proof, it drinks way hotter—feeling more like a 130-proof monster.
I picked up some chocolate Tootsie Roll and a bit of leather, but honestly, it was hard to focus because the alcohol burn kept stepping on the flavors.
THE FINISH:
Once the heat dies down, you’re left with a general sweetness and a hint of light fruit (like a green apple or pear), followed by just the right amount of oak.
It’s actually pretty pleasant once the fire is out.
BUY OR PASS?
For a bottle that’s tough to find and usually comes with a high price tag, I was expecting a lot more. The flavors themselves aren't bad, but the proof is just too oppressive—it’s like trying to enjoy a meal while someone is shouting in your ear.
It reminds me of those Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proofs that sometimes just drink way too hot for their own good. If I had to choose, I’d take the rye version over this any day. It's fine, but it’s a lot of work to find the flavor behind all that burn.
