Old Carter Very Small Batch 2-CFB Carter's Friends Bourbon 750ml 129.6 Proof

Carter's Friends Batch 2 — a barrel-strength straight bourbon at 129.6 proof, bottled in Louisville for the people around the Carter family and brand rather than for the shelf.

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. Alongside the numbered public batches they put out occasional releases that never enter normal distribution — club bottlings, state exclusives, and the Carter's Friends series this batch belongs to.

At 64.8% ABV, 2-CFB sits at the higher end of Old Carter's bourbon range. Nothing was added after the barrels were dumped, so the proof is simply where the whiskey landed, and the style is the one the brand is known for: dense, sweet and oak-driven, with no attempt to make it polite.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Dark caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, toasted oak and baking spice.
• Palate: Rich caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, seasoned oak, cinnamon and warming spice.
• Finish: Long, powerful and warming, with lingering caramel, oak, vanilla and spice.

Specs

• Brand: Old Carter Whiskey Co.
• Release: Very Small Batch 2-CFB — Carter's Friends Batch 2
• Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Bottling: Barrel strength
• Proof: 129.6 (64.8% ABV)
• Bottled in: Louisville, Kentucky
• Size: 750ml

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Carter's Friends series? A set of Old Carter releases made for people connected to the Carter family and the brand rather than for general distribution. Batch 2 follows 1-CFB. Because they bypass retail allocation entirely, bottles that surface later come from recipients rather than from shelves.
• Does 2-CFB carry an age statement? No. Old Carter states an age on some releases and not others; where there's no statement the whiskey is mature stock the Carters selected without committing to a number. Proof, batch code and bottling location are the identifiers here.
• Is 129.6 proof too hot to drink neat? It's high even by Old Carter standards, but barrel proof this dense usually carries enough sweetness and body to hold up. Pour a small measure, let it sit ten minutes, and add water a few drops at a time if you want it opened up rather than tamed.