BTAC WLW 07 vs 08.

[Joshua]

I have an ample supply of 2008 WLW around here, but today found a bottle of 2007 on the shelf. I know the general theme seems to be that the 2007 was a weak year, and 2008 is much better.

However, I picked up the 2007 ($54) due to the fact I'm sure I won't see it again. On the drive home, I have a buddy that was interested in having the 2007, and would give a 2008 bottle for it.

The question comes into play... is it worth ditching the 2007 for a 2008? What are peoples thoughts on the harder to find vs. better year? The choice boils down to--- do I want two bottles of 08, or one 07 and one 08.

[OscarV]

Wowie-Zowie!, (I think Zappa was the first to utter this),...

You know there was a lot of silence here on the mighty SB.com about the WLarueW'07.

It seems that the popular opinion is '06 is the best, ('06 is good but I am not a big Pappy15 fan).

The '08 is a bit char heavy for me to give it very high marks.

The '07 has that Centennial sweetness that made me a beliver some time ago.

[tommyboy38]

I've only had the chance to try the 08 and it was excellent. I'll be opening an 06 in a week and look forward to it. After I cleaned out the stock of 06's a few weeks ago, the retailer brought out a case of the 07 to put on the shelf and I kinda went, "meh" as I haven't heard much here about it and I've been really stretching the bourbon budget lately.

[OscarV]

.... the retailer brought out a case of the 07 to put on the shelf,...

.... I haven't heard much here about it

The 2007 WLarueW is the best of the four.

[dean_martin]

That's interesting. I've been passing up the '08 Saz 18yo at one of my regular stops because several here have said that it's not that special (I'm paraphrasing), but today I was looking at the bottles more closely and noticed that one was bottled Fall 2007. I eye-balled the '07 bottle and an '08 bottle and the '07 appeared darker/richer in color. I've been more interested in the Handy, Stagg and Weller, but I couldn't put the '07 Saz back on the shelf. It's at home with me now!

[ggilbertva]

That's interesting. I've been passing up the '08 Saz 18yo at one of my regular stops because several here have said that it's not that special (I'm paraphrasing), but today I was looking at the bottles more closely and noticed that one was bottled Fall 2007. I eye-balled the '07 bottle and an '08 bottle and the '07 appeared darker/richer in color. I've been more interested in the Handy, Stagg and Weller, but I couldn't put the '07 Saz back on the shelf. It's at home with me now!

The Saz 18 has been tanked for a couple of years now so it really hasn't varied much from year to year. There will be some changes but nothing like the Handy, WLW or Stagg.

BTW, I love the E-type in your Avatar.....my favorite all time car.

[jburlowski]

All the WLW releases are very very good. But after getting around to trying the 2008 this past weekend, I'd have to say the 2007 is the best.

[p_elliott]

All the WLW releases are very very good. But after getting around to trying the 2008 this past weekend, I'd have to say the 2007 is the best.

I've only had the 08 but my post is about people standing up against the crowd everybody says 06 is number 1 and 08 is a close second. I respect people who can voice a different opinion. I'm not saying who's right or wrong I just think a lot of people jump on band wagons on here. IMHO.

[fishnbowljoe]

I have both. You can't go wrong with either one. :yum: It's all good! Joe

[ripvanfan]

when someone has a moment, can they go through the variances of proof between the wlw bottlings over the last 3 years?

[OscarV]

when someone has a moment, can they go through the variances of proof between the wlw bottlings over the last 3 years?

List the proofs and years? Sure thing.

2005 121.95

2006 129.9

2007 117.9

2008 125.3

[tommyboy38]

The 2005 is 121.9

The 2006 is 129.9

The 2007 is 117.9

and i'll have to look up the 2008..

And it is 127.5...

And now I have the urge to pick up some of the 2007. I must admit that I bought several of the 2006 WLW's due to what I've read here and now I think that one or two may migrate over to the trade side of the bunker to make room for later releases in the drinking side of the bunker.

It might be interesting to do a vatting of the last 4 WLW's.

[OscarV]

It might be interesting to do a vatting of the last 4 WLW's.

Nah, not really.

[tommyboy38]

Oscar,

The 2006 WLW doesn't remind me of Pappy 15 at all.

I may have to go grab one or two of the 2007 WLW on the shelf. Can't hurt to have as many BTAC's in the bunker as possible.

[mrmountainhop]

Oscar,

I may have to go grab one or two of the 2007 WLW on the shelf. Can't hurt to have as many BTAC's in the bunker as possible.

I have to agree with both sentiments above. Personally, I think the 2007 WLW is truly fine - superior to 2008.

Where are all these 2007 WLWs?

[ggilbertva]

I have to agree with both sentiments above. Personally, I think the 2007 WLW is truly fine - superior to 2008.

Where are all these 2007 WLWs?

If you want a 2007, you'll have to hunt for it or trade for it. The BTAC is a very limited release so finding prior years still sitting on the shelf is truly fortunate.

[Ruby K]

random question- is the 2007 the only WLW with the proof that "low"? i saw a WLW bottle at a new place I found and it was 11X (couldn't make out the last number, damn glasses).

[OscarV]

random question- is the 2007 the only WLW with the proof that "low"? i saw a WLW bottle at a new place I found and it was 11X (couldn't make out the last number, damn glasses).

[Ruby K]

See Post #11 above and add 2009 @ 134.8.

Appreciated Oscar. I was just trying to figure out if 2007 is the only one in the 110-120 range.

[fishnbowljoe]

I really like the 07 WLW. Maybe it's the fact that it's only 117.9 proof that appeals to me just a bit more. Not that I don't like the higher proof offerings of WLW and GTS of other years. I have one bottle open on my shelf, one on the way, and I know where I can pick up another bottle, just in case. One of my favorites. :yum: Joe

[spun_cookie]

The 2007 WLarueW is the best of the four.

Oscar is right... the '07 is the best of the 06, 07, 08 and 09... but when the 05 is mixed in... the '05 takes it

I just got confirmation from Kris Comstock at BT that the (2006) WLW is the last of the old Stitzel-Weller stock.

So, is this the only confirmation that the 2006 William Larue Weller is Stizel-Weller Juice?

[Old Lamplighter]

Oscar is right... the '07 is the best of the 06, 07, 08 and 09... but when the 05 is mixed in... the '05 takes it

So, is this the only confirmation that the 2006 William Larue Weller is Stizel-Weller Juice?

[nor02lei]

I distinctly recall somewhere way back in a thread from the fall of 06, that WLW 06 was not S-W juice. I am sure one of the veterans here can verify my recollection one way or the other......pretty sure it was just a rumor. Also, I think the age of WLW 06 was around 12 yrs, BT wheat. You may be thinking of the first WLW issue from earlier in the decade which was of a 19 yr age span....it may have been of S-W origination, don't know for sure but the age would fit whereas the 06 version would not.

I think the 2006 were 15 years old and I can’t recall that the origination has been cleared out fully here al row there have been a lot of speculations.

Leif

[OscarV]

I can't seem to recall the date for the last days of production of the Stizel-Weller distillery.

I've heard both June '72 and Autumn '73.

So when was the last "distilling" done? Not just "production".

Production could mean something other than distilling I suppose.

As far as the first two WLarueW's being S-W whiskey or not here's what the spec sheets give for the Year of Distillation,

'05 release: Fall of 1993 (12yo)

'06 release: Spring of 1991 (15 1/2yo)

'05 maybe not if June '72 was the last days.

'06 could have been but here's the other twist.

The Stagg distillery made wheated bourbon for sell on the "spot" market so it could also have been their old stock and not S-W.

Another thing the spec sheets say is that the Distiller is Buffalo Trace Distillery, Franklin County, Kentucky.

I suppose they can call the former George T Stagg distillery Buffalo Trace.

But if it was S-W can they change the distillery name and location name from Louisville to Franklin County?

[Virus_Of_Life]

I am sorry, but I am just not buying that the '07 is better than the '06. I'll have to open an '07 and taste it again if I have more than 1 bunkered, but the '06 is one of the best wheaters I've tasted. It is also a favorite of Dawn's and I know she knows her wheated bourbon!

The last days of S-W was in 1992, not 1972.

Joshua, what did you end up doing in that deal? Maybe you and I need to get together this Spring and do a vertical of them all to lay our opinions out there.