Old Carter Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 19 (75cl, 59.5%)

Old Carter Batch 19 is a small-batch straight bourbon bottled at barrel strength, 59.5% ABV (119 proof), in Louisville, Kentucky, in a 75cl bottle. Each Old Carter batch is a marriage of mature barrels rather than a single cask, bottled without dilution and numbered by hand, so the strength is simply where that marriage landed. The higher strength adds weight on the palate, letting the caramel and vanilla stand up to oak, char and darker spice. The nose is dark caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, dark fruit, toasted oak and warm baking spices. The palate is rich and full-bodied, with caramelised sugar, dark cherry, toasted nuts, tobacco, cinnamon and barrel char. The finish is long and warming.