Old Carter (Batch 4) Vs. George T. Stagg (2019)

As soon as I tried the very excellent Old Carter Batch 4, I wanted to taste it next to GTS. They are both the exact same 116 proof. Both incredibly full-flavored, and long lasting. And both expensive. I got GTS for $95, and paid $199 for Old Carter.

Stagg) old leather and oak dominate the amazingly strong nose. But there is some dark cherry, apple, vanilla, and honey present as well. The first sip bursts on your tongue with dark cherry, caramel-apple, oak, slight anise, and cinnamon spice. The finish goes on for days and is like sitting in a leather chair next to an oak barrel (that has a smoldering cigar on it), while eating a caramel apple, and reading a dusty book. Absolutely amazing.

Old Carter) lighter, brighter nose that is more fruit-forward, with floral honey, a little funky/sour note, and oak as a supporting role. The palate is very full-flavored and coats your tongue with honey, oak, cinnamon, maple, slight citrus, and rye-spice. The long finish is more rye spice and very subtle smoke.

Verdict) These are both amazing bottles, and I feel incredibly lucky to have them. However, GTS is just on another level. It may be the best bourbon I’ve ever tasted. At half the MSRP of Old Carter, it’s the no-brainer winner here. 
HOWEVER. Since you can actually plunk down $200 and get a bottle of OC, and you can’t typically find GTS for less than $500, in that case of-course I would go for the Old Carter all day long!!