Old Carter Whiskey Co.

When Mark Carter left the California wine world after earning twenty-five 100-point scores, he brought his blending sensibilities to bourbon. Old Carter Whiskey Co. represents the convergence of wine country precision and Kentucky tradition, producing some of the most carefully composed American whiskeys in today's market.

History & Heritage

Mark and Sherri Carter founded Old Carter Whiskey Co. in 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky, after Mark's successful tenure reviving the Kentucky Owl brand. The company operates from historic Whiskey Row, where Mark applies the same meticulous approach that earned him acclaim in California's wine industry. After a brief ownership change, Mark reacquired the company in late 2024, with the deal closing in March 2025, ensuring continuity of his hands-on philosophy.

The Whiskey

Old Carter sources exceptional barrels from across America, then Mark Carter personally crafts each blend as a unique composition rather than chasing consistency batch to batch. The company employs double-barreling for select releases, experimenting with different char levels and cooperages to build complexity. Every expression reaches the market at barrel strength without chill filtration, preserving the whiskey's full character across their bourbon, rye, and American whiskey offerings.

Why It Matters

Old Carter earned a 100-point score for one of their rye expressions, validating Mark Carter's transition from wine to whiskey. The limited production runs, often numbering only hundreds of expressions per batch, make each release a study in American whiskey blending at its finest. For those who appreciate good whiskey, Old Carter represents the art of composition over mass production.