Old Carter Bourbon Whiskey #72 13 Year Single Barrel 118 Proof

Single barrel #72 at 118 proof, thirteen years old, bottled at barrel strength in Frankfort, Kentucky — 150 bottles from the cask, the yield written on the label by hand.

This is sourced Kentucky bourbon, not Old Carter's own distillate. Mark and Sherri Carter built their reputation on selection rather than production: buying mature barrels from Kentucky producers, tasting through them, and releasing the ones worth bottling on their own at full strength.

Thirteen years puts barrel #72 in the mature end of the range, and at 59.0% ABV the proof is moderate enough that the oak and dried fruit sit forward rather than behind a wall of alcohol. Once these 150 bottles are gone, this exact barrel profile can't be reproduced.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rich caramel, brown sugar, vanilla bean and toasted oak, followed by dark cherry, baking spice and hints of tobacco and leather.
• Palate: Full-bodied and concentrated — dark caramel, vanilla, brown sugar and mature oak, with dark fruit, cinnamon and toasted sugar developing behind them.
• Finish: Long and warming, with lingering caramel, vanilla, seasoned oak, dark spice and subtle tobacco.

Specs

• Brand: Old Carter Whiskey Co.
• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Release: Single barrel, barrel strength
• Barrel: #72
• Age: 13 years
• Proof: 118 (59.0% ABV)
• Yield: 150 bottles
• Origin: Sourced Kentucky bourbon — not distilled by Old Carter
• Bottled in: Frankfort, Kentucky
• Size: 750ml

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does independent bottler mean? A company that buys and selects finished whiskey rather than distilling it. Old Carter sources mature barrels, decides which are worth releasing, and bottles them under its own label at barrel strength. The skill is in the choosing, and it's why barrel-to-barrel quality holds up across a range with no distillery of its own behind it.
• How many bottles came from barrel #72? 150, recorded by hand on the label along with the barrel number and proof.
• Is 118 proof low for Old Carter? It's at the gentler end — the range runs past 129 on some releases. Lower proof on a thirteen-year barrel isn't a weakness; it usually means a cooler warehouse position, and the practical effect is a bottle that opens up without needing water.