Old Weller 107 (Confusing 375ml)

[Joshua]

I searched on this, but the only information I found isn't exactly relevant to this. Usually I've found the date on bottles are fairly easy to find, but on this 375ml of OWA107, it says "84" on the bottom of the bottle. This shocked me, and then I noticed the bottle is not OWA107, but "Old Weller The Original 107 Proof"

I know there was some questionable "Antique" labeling between SW and BT. it's a 88004 02569 number, which I believe is all BT.

After letting it breath, it has a bit different flavor then the 90 proof. It's got a deeper flavor (not strictly proof) as well as a more grainy flavor with less alcohol in the nose. This doesn't taste like the new OWA107 I have, and enough of a different profile from the newer BT wheaters that makes me wonder.

Edit: Adding in tasting notes.

Nose: more earthy then Lot B, vanilla, BBQ?, butter, sweet,

Initial reaction: tingle showing the proof, sweet, almost a hint of rye spice for a second? I don't understand where this flavor is coming from.

Middle: full and deep for a wheater, vanilla, heavy carmel, cinnamon or pepper, corn syrup, grains. More body then expected.

Finish: Long, tingle without burn, sweet, fading to light carmel flavored wood

If I was crazy, I would say this is a OW(A)107 label on a bottle of something else. It tastes like it's 90 proof little brother, with a splash of WT101, and added depth. I wish I had more then 150ML or so left of it. Am I crazy?

[gblick]

Is it a Louisville or Frankfort bottling?

If it's really from '84, it should have a tax strip and be from Louisville.

I've seen the number 84 very often on the bottom of new handles of OWA, meaning that's not a date. I have some authentic '84 Old Weller 107 200ml bottles with printed tax strips (IIRC, they may actually be from '82, I'll recheck later tonight).

Also, if it really is that old, the "No._____" field at the top left side of the front label should have hand-written codes filled in.

And of course, if it really is a much older bottle of OW107, it's going to be way better than your current OWA. Sorry that I can't help with your other tasting notes/comparisons, as my palette is not that discerning, I just know that those older bottlings of OWA are some of my very favorites.

[theDon]

I have seen tons of these Old Weller The Original 107 375ml here in Dallas. I have bought some and it seems to be the same as Antique and BT. All Frankfort. Can't give you any explanation why the label is different, just that it is common.

[gblick]

I'd also like to add that the current OWA label on the 375ml bottles looks like an older label, in that it still has that "No._____" field on the upper left of the front label, and I can't recall whether the word Antique is on there or not (I'm thinking not).

The very early Frankfort labels (late 1990's into the early 2000's) still have that "No._____" field on them (except for the 375ml's which all still have it), and this is one of the easiest ways to spot the older bottles. If you see any 750's, 1L's, or 1.75L's of OWA with the "No._____" field on the front label, buy one and try it (it's some really good stuff, even if it's Frankfort and not Louisville).

[gblick]

Ooops, I missed where you said yours is 88004. It must be one of those bottles with an 84 and no date. I've seen this on the newer handles but not on the 375's.

I checked the numbers on those old 200ml bottles I mentioned earlier, and they have 85 stamped in the usual date area, and the bar code number starts with 88508. I think it was sometime in the late 80's that the bar code number changed from 88508 to 88076, and then around the late 90's that it changed to 88004.

But I wouldn't assume that 88004 automatically means it's BT juice either. I've got a gold-veined Louisville bottle from '96 with 88004 on it.

Regarding the word Antique, I can't recall whether I've ever even seen it on any 375's, and it's not on any of my dusties. I'll check for it next time I see it on a store shelf.

Is your bottle from Louisville or Frankfort, and does it have the code written in by hand? If it's a Louisville bottle with hand-written codes, I think it's safe to assume that it's SW, and I've heard one forum member dub SW as "the rye of wheaters". That would explain the rye quality that you're experiencing.

Your last comment gives me the idea to try a vatting of WSR and WT101.

[Joshua]

Thank you for the information, everything is leading me to believe that it is BT with a bit of a different taste then the really new stuff. Either that, or a "bad" batch that actually tastes better then the normal ones.

[Ruby K]

so i just found one of these as well... Old Weller, the Original 107 Proof. No website on the label. the bottom is interesting... has what could be either an 86 or an SG, then underneath is an 8, then on the right it has an 84 on top, and an 00 on the bottom. then in the middle there's a circle of 7 dots with the dots not equidistant. upc 088004 025694 any thoughts?

[Joshua]

No idea what it turned out to be, but myself and a few others decided this was NOT your standard OWA. Regardless of year, this is just one strange bottle. Well was, a couple folks on here killed off the last of the bottle in samples sent out.

[gblick]

so i just found one of these as well... Old Weller, the Original 107 Proof. No website on the label. the bottom is interesting... has what could be either an 86 or an SG, then underneath is an 8, then on the right it has an 84 on top, and an 00 on the bottom. then in the middle there's a circle of 7 dots with the dots not equidistant. upc 088004 025694 any thoughts?

[BBQ+Bourbon]

My guess would be that it was bottled in 2000, because the lower right side is usually where the date is.

Very likely. I have been snapping the 375 up as fast as I can because they are older and they are some very good OWA. Comparing these to anything made in the past few years, they have a much better taste. I would swear they are a few years older than the stated age.

If you want to take a small gamble, have your favorite store order a handle of OWA for you. They also tend to be several years old. Liters are coming in from 06 in my area as well.

If you are nonplussed with the 09 OWA, this is your last chance at the better juice!

[BBQ+Bourbon]

That didn't last long! These are coming in with an odd numbering on the bottom of the bottle now that does not include a two digit year. The 750ml that was lacking the year hit shelves here around late 06 or early 07 so maybe these are the same era. Maybe not.

The label is slick and cheap looking compared to the coarse finish of the earlier bottles.

I have a handle coming in tomorrow. These should be fairly old. The best part about them is that they are less profitable for the lurkers who want to sell them on ebay.