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Mark Carter joins us to share his remarkable journey from builder to whiskey maker and the philosophy behind Old Carter's exceptional barrel-proof expressions.

• Building a hotel and restaurant led to wine making in Napa Valley
• Partnered with Dixon Dedman to revive Kentucky Owl in 2011
• Founded Old Carter immediately after selling Kentucky Owl in 2017
• Never releases whiskey younger than 7 years old with most current products 10+ years
• Meticulously tastes and grades each barrel before creating small batch blends
• Uses multiple coopers for different flavor profiles
• The Carter Club is expanding with 400 additional lockers
• American Whiskey Batch 14 contains approximately 50% whiskey aged 19-20 years
• Balance is key to creating high-proof whiskeys that don't drink "hot"
• Describes Old Carter's signature profile as having "deep, rich aromatics" with "a long finish"
• Double barreling techniques create unique flavors in their expressions

Mark Carter's path to becoming one of Kentucky's most respected whiskey makers began far from the bourbon trail. A builder by trade who constructed a hotel, then managed its restaurant, Carter's curiosity about wine led him to purchase a Napa Valley winery in 2006. When seeking custom crush clients, he connected with Kentucky innkeeper Dixon Dedman, and instead of making wine together, suggested reviving Dedman's family whiskey heritage. This collaboration birthed Kentucky Owl in 2011, which they later sold to Stoli Group in 2017—the very same day Mark launched Old Carter Whiskey.

What makes Old Carter stand out in today's crowded whiskey landscape is Mark's unwavering commitment to quality. Nothing younger than seven years reaches the bottle, with most current releases featuring whiskey aged 10+ years. The blending process reveals Carter's artistry—tasting through dozens of barrels, grading each one, then carefully combining them to achieve perfect harmony. As he describes it, "We don't like hot. We want balanced. We love flavor." This philosophy explains how Old Carter creates high-proof expressions (often above 130 proof) that drink with remarkable smoothness.

The American Whiskey Batch 14 showcased during our conversation exemplifies this approach, containing approximately 50% whiskey aged 19-20 years. Despite its 134.3 proof, it delivers sweet notes of marshmallow and crème brûlée with a warming—never burning—finish. This meticulous attention extends to their barrel program, where Mark works with multiple coopers to achieve different flavor profiles, drawing parallels to his wine-making background.

Old Carter continues to expand, with their Carter Club adding 400 new lockers and several small batch releases planned for different distributors. Mark's passion for whiskey craftsmanship shines through in every expression, creating products that whiskey enthusiasts treasure. Experience what happens when patience, expertise, and unwavering standards come together in a glass—try Old Carter and taste the difference true dedication makes.

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The Scotchy Bourbon Boys reunite with Whiskey after a long hiatus to taste and review the exceptional William Heaven Hill 15-Year bourbon, a limited release that outshines even some Pappy Van Winkle expressions.

• Whiskey returns to the podcast after a long break from their "10-minute tastings" that often lasted 30+ minutes
• Catching up on recent bourbon experiences with Whiskey sharing his favorites including Weller 12, George T. Stagg, and Larceny Weeded Rye
• Discussion of Ohio's improving bourbon lottery system making allocated bottles more accessible
• Detailed examination of William Heaven Hill 15-Year, a limited release comprised of just 34 barrels aged 15 years
• Tasting notes including vanilla bean, brown sugar, light leather, subtle cherry and perfect amount of char
• Comparison to Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year with both hosts preferring the William Heaven Hill
• Impressive 18.5/19 score on their Old Louisville Whiskey Company Barrel Bottle Breakdown scale
• Insights on secondary market prices with this bottle now fetching $1,200-1,500 despite $279 retail price

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A reunion fifteen years in the making—well, at least it feels that way. When Whiskey returns to the Scotchy Bourbon Boys studio, the atmosphere crackles with the familiar energy that made their "10-minute tastings" (that routinely stretched to 30) so beloved by listeners.

Tonight's star attraction isn't just the reunion, but a bottle that commands hushed reverence in bourbon circles: William Heaven Hill 15-Year, the ninth edition of Heaven Hill's limited release masterpiece. Composed of merely 34 barrels pulled from the fourth floor of Rick House LL at Shenley and bottled at a perfect 109 proof, this isn't just another premium bourbon—it's a time capsule of exceptional craftsmanship.

The hosts dive deep into what makes this expression special, parsing through its complex nose of brown sugar, subtle cherry, and vanilla bean notes. While many 15-year bourbons fall victim to over-oaking, this one strikes a perfect harmony—delivering rich flavor without the woodiness that can overwhelm aged spirits. The mouthfeel earns particular praise for coating every corner of the palate despite not being barrel proof.

What follows is a masterclass in bourbon appreciation as they meticulously evaluate each aspect through their Old Louisville Whiskey Company Barrel Bottle Breakdown scale. The verdict? An astonishing 18.5 out of 19 possible points—a score rarely given even to the most heralded bottles. Perhaps most telling is their direct comparison to Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year, with both hosts preferring this Heaven Hill offering despite its (relatively) more attainable secondary market price of $1,200-1,500.

Whether you're a seasoned bourbon collector or simply appreciate the artistry behind exceptional spirits, this episode captures the magic that happens when passionate enthusiasts encounter something truly special in their glass. Pour yourself something worthy and join the celebration—the Boys are back in town.

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The Scotchy Bourbon Boys conduct a comprehensive blind tasting of the entire Weller bourbon lineup to determine which expression truly reigns supreme based solely on taste.

• Full Weller lineup includes Special Reserve, Antique 107, 12 Year, Full Proof, CYPB, and William LaRue Weller
• Tasting conducted completely blind with color-coded samples to eliminate bias
• William LaRue Weller unanimously wins first place with its exceptional rich caramel profile
• CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) surprisingly takes second place overall
• Weller Full Proof secures third with its distinctive candy apple and cinnamon notes
• Weller Antique 107 lands in fourth place despite its popularity among bourbon enthusiasts
• The highly sought-after Weller 12 Year unexpectedly places fifth in the lineup
• Weller Special Reserve finishes last but is still acknowledged as a quality bourbon
• Price and availability don't necessarily correlate with quality when tasting blind
• The hosts experience palate fatigue and use water and other spirits to reset
• Even the lowest-ranked Weller expressions are considered excellent bourbons

Check out our website at www.scotchiebourbonboys.com for merchandise, glassware, and more information about our sponsors Whiskey Thief Distilling Company, Middle West Spirits, Rosewood Bourbon, and Alan Bishop's podcast "If You Have Ghosts, You Have Everything."

A heated debate erupts as Super Nash and Tiny embark on a comprehensive blind tasting of the entire Weller bourbon lineup, revealing surprising favorites and challenging preconceptions about these coveted wheated bourbons.

The duo meticulously samples six expressions—Weller Special Reserve, Weller 12 Year, Weller Antique 107, Weller Full Proof, Weller CYPB, and the prestigious William LaRue Weller—with no knowledge of which is which. What follows is a genuine, unfiltered evaluation based purely on taste preferences rather than reputation or price tag.

"Brown sugar, cinnamon bun, and caramel" notes dominate the conversation as they work through uniquely color-coded samples, discovering significant flavor differences despite all expressions sharing the same wheated bourbon DNA. The hosts' palates pick up distinctive profiles ranging from "pure caramel" to "candy apple with cinnamon," highlighting how aging conditions and proof points transform Buffalo Trace's beloved distillate.

When the bottles are finally revealed, William LaRue Weller unanimously claims first place, confirming its reputation as an exceptional limited release. However, several rankings prove genuinely surprising, particularly the performance of Weller CYPB and Full Proof compared to the highly allocated Weller 12 Year. These results challenge conventional wisdom about which Weller expressions truly deliver the best drinking experience.

Between passionate disagreements about rankings and hilarious confusion during the reveal, the tasting demonstrates why blind evaluation remains the ultimate test of quality. For bourbon enthusiasts chasing allocated Weller bottles, this episode provides valuable insight into which expressions might actually deserve the hunt—and which might be sitting overlooked on shelves.

Whether you're a seasoned Weller collector or bourbon curious, join us for this entertaining and informative journey through Buffalo Trace's most celebrated wheated bourbon family

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