Old Carter Batch 1 Straight Kentucky Whiskey is an October 2020 release barrel strength whiskey from Mark and Sherri Carter, bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. The category is a distinct one: this whiskey was distilled from a bourbon mash bill but aged in used oak barrels rather than new charred oak, which is what places it in the rare Straight Kentucky Whiskey designation rather than bourbon. The result is a softer, more supple profile that lets the corn sweetness and grain character lead. Just 1,854 bottles were drawn from a blend of 8 barrels, each labeled by hand by Sherri.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Old Carter Whiskey Co. |
| Founders |
Mark & Sherri Carter |
| Type |
Straight Kentucky Whiskey |
| Format |
Small Batch, Barrel Strength |
| Batch |
Batch 1 |
| Bottle Count |
1,854 bottles |
| Barrel Composition |
8 barrel blend |
| Mash Bill |
Bourbon mash bill |
| Maturation |
Used oak barrels (disqualifies it from bourbon designation) |
| Bottled In |
Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Released |
October 2020 |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| ABV |
58.75% |
| Proof |
117.5 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Packaging |
Bottle only, hand labeled |
Tasting Notes
Color: Pale amber with golden honey highlights.
Nose: Iced orange pound cake, purple clover flowers, cornbread, sorghum butter, with maple and dusty oak as it opens.
Palate: Round yet spicy, warm poached stone fruit, cream soda, cinnamon, and salted pistachio.
Finish: Long and warm with lingering sweetness that invites the next sip.
FAQ
Why is this called Straight Kentucky Whiskey instead of bourbon? Bourbon must by law be aged in new charred oak barrels. This whiskey was made from a bourbon mash bill but matured in used oak barrels, so it cannot legally be called bourbon. The Straight Kentucky Whiskey category preserves the Kentucky origin and straight whiskey requirements without the new oak rule, producing a softer, more delicate profile.
Where did this whiskey come from? Old Carter does not disclose its source distilleries, but secondary market and retailer notes have widely connected this Batch 1 to Buffalo Trace stocks. The Carters hand selected the 8 barrels and bottled the batch in Bardstown, Kentucky.
How does it compare to Old Carter Bourbon Batch 6? The Bourbon Batch 6 at 106.5 proof leans cedar, vanilla, and cinnamon apple from new charred oak. This Straight Kentucky Whiskey at 117.5 proof shows brighter corn sweetness, floral notes, and softer oak influence thanks to the used barrel maturation. Side by side they make a great study in how cooperage shapes a finished whiskey.
Where can I buy Old Carter Batch 1 Straight Kentucky Whiskey online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
