Old Carter Batch 4-CA Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Old Carter Batch 4-CA Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a cult-favorite release from one of the most sought-after boutique whiskey producers in America. Bottled at a powerful 59.3% ABV (118.6 proof) and produced in an extremely limited run of just 1,395 bottles, this California-exclusive batch showcases the dense concentration and bold personality that define Old Carter’s barrel-strength bourbons. Rich caramelized sweetness, deep oak spice, and dark fruit intensity unfold in layers, making this a collector-grade bourbon prized by enthusiasts for both rarity and flavor depth.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Old Carter Whiskey Co. was founded by Mark and Sherri Carter, known in the whiskey world for sourcing exceptional barrels and blending them into extremely small batches. Each release is intentionally tiny, emphasizing flavor complexity and individuality rather than large-scale production.

The Batch 4-CA release is a California-exclusive bottling, created from a very small blend of barrels, emphasizing Old Carter’s signature approach: selecting mature barrels and marrying them into intensely expressive limited batches.

Key production details include:

• Spirit type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Batch composition: extremely small batch (often around five barrels)
• Bottling strength: 59.3% ABV / 118.6 proof
• Release size: 1,395 bottles produced (California market allocation)
• Style: barrel strength, non-chill filtered, preserving full flavor concentration

Old Carter releases are bottled without dilution beyond the barrel blend itself, meaning the whiskey retains the full intensity and texture developed during maturation.

Critics Reviews

There are no widely published professional critic scores available.

Old Carter releases are primarily distributed in small allocations and frequently sell out quickly, making formal professional scoring relatively rare compared with larger commercial whiskey brands.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Caramelized brown sugar, vanilla bean, toasted oak, dark cherry, and baking spice.

Palate:
Full-bodied and viscous with flavors of butterscotch, molasses, roasted nuts, and rich caramel layered over dark fruit and peppery spice.

Finish:
Long and warming with lingering oak, cocoa, sweet spice, and barrel char.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Recipes

Because this bourbon is extremely limited and bottled at barrel strength, it is typically enjoyed neat. However, for those who wish to explore it in cocktails, minimal-ingredient classics work best.

Barrel Strength Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 1½ oz Old Carter Batch 4-CA Bourbon
• ¼ oz rich demerara syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel

Preparation
Stir ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with expressed orange peel.

High-Proof Manhattan

Ingredients

• 2 oz Old Carter Batch 4-CA Bourbon
• ¾ oz sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Preparation
Stir with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

"Old Carter Whiskey Co. is focused on creating totally unique, very small-batch, straight rye and bourbon whiskies. We create our spirits from the heart, each one a single expression of what we love."

 - Mark & Sherri Carter