Old Carter Bourbon Whiskey #97 13 Year Single Barrel 119.8 Proof

Single barrel #97 at 119.8 proof, thirteen years old, bottled uncut and non-chill filtered in Frankfort, Kentucky — bottle 30 of 132.

Old Carter Whiskey Co. is the project of Mark and Sherri Carter, who built Kentucky Owl into a cult brand before selling it in 2017 and starting again under their own name. They don't operate a distillery — they source and select mature Kentucky whiskey, then release it at barrel strength with no chill filtration. Sherri hand-labels every bottle, which is why the barrel number, bottle number, ABV and proof are written out by hand on the front.

Barrel #97 gave up just 132 bottles at 59.9% ABV. Thirteen years of Kentucky aging concentrates a cask and shrinks it at the same time, and what comes out is a snapshot of one barrel rather than a house style — no blending to average it toward a target.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rich caramel, seasoned oak, vanilla bean and dark brown sugar with hints of dried fruit and baking spice.
• Palate: Full-bodied and concentrated — toffee, vanilla, dark cherry and caramelized sugar followed by cinnamon, leather and mature oak.
• Finish: Long and warming, with lingering vanilla, charred oak, dark fruit and sweet baking spice.

Specs

• Brand: Old Carter Whiskey Co.
• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Release: Single barrel, barrel strength, non-chill filtered
• Barrel: 97
• Age: 13 years
• Proof: 119.8 (59.9% ABV)
• Bottle: 30 of 132
• Bottled in: Frankfort, Kentucky
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Old Carter collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many bottles came from barrel #97? 132 in total, which is on the small side even for a thirteen-year cask. This is bottle 30.
• What does barrel strength mean? The whiskey goes into the bottle at the strength it came out of the cask — no water added to bring it down to a standard proof. For barrel #97 that's 119.8, a figure specific to this one barrel and no other.
• How should a thirteen-year barrel-strength bourbon be served? Neat, in a glass with some surface area, and give it ten minutes. Long-aged high-proof bourbon opens considerably with air. Add water a few drops at a time if you want it softer — you can always add more, never less.