Ancient Age 86 - How Old?

[Sweetmeats]

Can anyone tell me how old they think this is?

It has a red tax strip with nothing notable other then the numbers 95106979

The bottom of the bottle has a v inside a diamond and the number 4107

The bottom right of the front label has SL 16.101.31.01

It says Frankfort, Kentucky.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Mark

[TNbourbon]

I've had bottles with identical labeling from the late-'60s.

[Ken Weber]

My best guess is the 60s or 70s. We have not produced that package in quite some time.

Ken

[kbuzbee]

Nice to have you back, Ken.

Ken

[dougdog]

Mark,

There has been a lot of information given on this site regarding how to estimate the date of any particular bottling, or, how to estimate the age/era of the whiskey.

Most of the information used in dating bottles is subject to time frames when known factors were at large. Sometimes the age or era is narrowed to a time span of 1-4 years if there is no other overriding factor that will pinpoint the age exactly.

The picture you posted here has a give-away as to the approximate age. (This is why posting pictures helps immensely in determining age)

The bottle has "liter" printed on the neck label, the fact that you mentioned the Federal Tax Stamp Number is 8 digits long, is another defining clue.

In my experience, most all bottles of "metric" persuasion were bottled starting in 1980. The only known exception to my knowledge was a couple of bottles of Old Forester BIB I found that stated 1978 as the fill date on the green tax stamp, and those bottles were 750ml's. The 8 or 9 digit federal numbers were phased out around 1982-84. So, I'd guess your bottle to be from 1980-1982.

Keeping track of labels in the industry is a tough job because of so many changes. When there is knowledge about specific label changes it will lend to determining age much more exactly. I don't know specifics about AA products other than they seemed to use labels for a long time without changing them probably for consumer recognition /marketing reasons.

If anyone else reading this post has more specific knowledge, please post it so we can all learn.

Hope this helps a bit...best regards, dougdog