These are 2 of the most unique bottles that I have ever had. Both of these drams also transform their flavors with some water, are both expensive, and both sourced.

OC) This is a masterful blend of 12yr barrels sourced from Indiana with a resulting monster 138.1 proof! At first nose there is almost overwhelming ethanol, but after about 5mL of water, it really changes  to a sweet cinnamon Red-Hot candy with vanilla and oak. On the palate the first sip can be overwhelming with alcohol, but again, a little water completely changes it into one of the most amazing, complex, and unique drams I’ve ever had. The tastes start with Cinnamon Red-Hot candy, oak, and vanilla, but then leather, candied bacon, and dark cherries show up, and finally some pickle brine! The finish goes on for days with smooth rye-spice, honey sweetness, and more of that interesting brine. WOW!

RP) This comes from bourbon mash-bill barrels sourced from Canada. It was forgotten in the back of the warehouse for 15 years in the cold Canadian air. It is bottled at a 119.7 cask-proof.

This is a hard bottle to review. At first I thought this was one of the worst whiskeys I’ve ever had, with paint-thinner and burnt plastic on the nose and palate, ugh! After sitting for 10min, I tried it again. I started to get more oak, vanilla, caramel, and a hint of coconut. The palate was starting to improve as well, but still had those burnt-plastic notes. After about 3mL of water, the palate was now an incredibly unique, oily, viscous, mouth coating maple-syrup with some ethanol burn, unique rye-spice, smoky burnt-caramel, oak, and slight toasted coconut.

The finish is long and oily with smoky burnt-caramel, that strange rye-spice, and lots of charred oak.

This is an interesting and unique dram, and there are things I like about it. However, I’m not sure I will be reaching for this one very often.

Verdict) These are both very unique bottles. RP is interesting, and enjoyable in small doses, but this OC is, without exaggeration, one of the most amazing bottles I’ve ever had. I’m really impressed with the blending talent from the Carters!