Wheat embossed Weller 12

[adub23]

I had a question for those more knowledgeable on the topic. Is all wheat embossed Weller 12 bottles those that were produced by Bernheim or was there an overlap to the Buffalo Trace version? I was under the impression that all wheat embossed bottles were but someone recently told me the current liter bottlings from Buffalo Trace still use the wheat embossed style bottle. I tried searching on the site and on Google to see if there is a way to tell by the date code on the bottle but the most I could find was roughly 2006-2009 was when the wheat embossed style bottle was produced for the 750ml version but unsure if this corresponded to Bernheim producing what was in the bottle and could find nothing about the liter version still using it to date. Any input is appreciated!

[michaelturtle1]

The only right answer is that nobody really knows except those who bottled them, I have had early wheat embossed bottles that look like motor oil and taste nothing like current weller 12. If you try it and like it does it really matter what's in the bottle?

[adub23]

Michael, I have tried it and loved it. That is why I was trying to track down some more. I found a source that has some but there is obviously a premium associated with acquiring said bottle so I wouldn't mind knowing I am getting what I am expecting.

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[smknjoe]

The only right answer is that nobody really knows except those who bottled them, I have had early wheat embossed bottles that look like motor oil and taste nothing like current weller 12. If you try it and like it does it really matter what's in the bottle?

This answer is a very good one. The only thing I can add is that you definitely can't rely on the embossed bottle alone to tell you what the juice in the bottle tastes like. I have had some of the same dark juice Mike refers to and it's great. And then I have some in a wheat embossed bottle that's just as bad as the current stuff (sorry guys, I don't like the current stuff at all.) Very "scotch" like. I don't know exactly when it was bottled since the printed code is not complete. I'm guessing sometime as late as 2010-2012 since the other Weller bottles close by were from that time frame.

^ 750ml bottled 2010-2012 tastes like the current production.

I have seen 1 liter embossed bottles on shelves as recently as ~3 months ago. I don't really pay attention to W12 since I don't buy it any more.

Edited April 8, 2014 by smknjoe

[adub23]

Ok so sounds like color is probably the best/only indicator of what I should expect in the bottle. Thanks for the input guys!

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[tylermke]

I'm pretty sure all of the current 1L Weller 12 bottles have the embossed logo as well. Again, not a great indicator.

Just ask Mike for some of his paper label stash if you want to try the good stuff.

[Josh]

To answer the question, yes, there was overlap in the 750 ml & 1.75 ltr bottlings. I had no idea they did liters but clearly it was there too, if they're still on shelves.

Also, there could very well be a little Bernheim in current bottlings. Nothing prevents them from putting old Bernheim in with BT distillate.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Josh

[T Comp]

(sorry guys, I don't like the current stuff at all.) Very "scotch" like.

I don't either Joe and you might be on to something as to why. I enjoy scotch, just not when it comes in bourbon.

And, if one happens to come across a bottled on the 54th day in '07 (and next to that another with a missing code but exact same motor oil appearance)...you have struck gold :cool:.

[The Black Tot]

Just bought three 1L bottles of wheat embossed W12.

Seems like the 1L isn't any awesome shakes, but I figured the downside was that I'd have 3L of lesser W12 to drink...

The date codes don't point me to a date very well. I've got 04.5893.02 in black on the label right under the black band, and there are white codes under the label level randomly around the circumference of the bottles, one of which reads "B1218716:284", for example.

The B either means bottling line B or Buffalo Trace... the only thing that seems clear is a time of 16:28.

Is this to indicate Buffalo Trace, 2012, day 187, time 16:28, bottling line 4?

tbt

Edited June 27, 2014 by The Black Tot

[BootsOnTheGround]

Is this to indicate Buffalo Trace, 2012, day 187, time 16:28, bottling line 4?

tbt

Yep, as far as I know that's BT's code. I have B13 W12's 750's and a sample I got of the wheat embossed that I'm going to do a blind against Lot B.

Also, wouldn't the first 5 digits of the UPC allow one to determine place of orgin or no?

[The Black Tot]

Also, wouldn't the first 5 digits of the UPC allow one to determine place of orgin or no?

[luther.r]

88004 is just BT's UPC prefix.

[The Black Tot]

88004 is just BT's UPC prefix.

Thanks, Luther. Is this prefix useful in identifying other brands/distilleries? The UPC code prefix would only identify the bottling entity, wouldn't it?

All the best,

tbt

[kjbeggs]

I have scoured every inch of the three 1 liter bottles of Weller 12 I recently found (the guy at the store was surprised they had them), and cannot find any date code on them anywhere.

They have the embossed wheat, and the black code in the lower right of the label (04.5893.02), as well as some random characters embossed at the bottom (3 E35 O-I 3), but no one can find any white standard BT code anywhere on these bottles.

One of them is empty now, and I still can't find the code.

Anyone point me to the right area with a pic or something?

[brettckeen]

Recently came into a couple wheat embossed 1.75s, the bottle shape is different that current 1.75s of w12. I found the wheat embossed to have more wood notes and a dryness suggestive of older mingle, didn't have the sweetness of SW or the cardboard taste of later SW. It did have a dryness I have found in some of the recent Willett Bernheim. It wasn't better than current, just different, I find both enjoyable though. Last summer I had a few pours of a .750ml wheat embossed w12 it was very sweet. It was very dark. No idea of age but it was at a bar who acquired the bottles (with paper label OWA) around 2007 or 2008 from their distributor when the business opened.

[Swoboda]

I have scoured every inch of the three 1 liter bottles of Weller 12 I recently found (the guy at the store was surprised they had them), and cannot find any date code on them anywhere.

They have the embossed wheat, and the black code in the lower right of the label (04.5893.02), as well as some random characters embossed at the bottom (3 E35 O-I 3), but no one can find any white standard BT code anywhere on these bottles.

One of them is empty now, and I still can't find the code.

Anyone point me to the right area with a pic or something?

I bought a very similar W12 1.0 liter wheat embossed bottle about six weeks ago in KC. There is a very small laser-etched date code on the bottle near the bottom and just above the embossed dots: B1218715:284

The code would indicate a 2012 product. Very odd...? Haven't opened it yet.

(Sorry no pic)

Edited February 28, 2015 by Swoboda

[T Comp]

I have scoured every inch of the three 1 liter bottles of Weller 12 I recently found (the guy at the store was surprised they had them), and cannot find any date code on them anywhere.

They have the embossed wheat, and the black code in the lower right of the label (04.5893.02), as well as some random characters embossed at the bottom (3 E35 O-I 3), but no one can find any white standard BT code anywhere on these bottles.

One of them is empty now, and I still can't find the code.

Anyone point me to the right area with a pic or something?

Probabaly not there kj. I have some '07 embossed 750s, that came from the same case and several bottles had none.

[kjbeggs]

Thanks for the responses guys. I know I'm getting older, crazier, and more blind, but didn't think I was that far gone yet!

[wadewood]

All the 1 liter bottles that I've seen (including one a bought last week) have the embossed wheat. My guess is they purchased a boatload of the wheat embossed 1 liter bottles and don't sell near as much of that, so they are still using these.

[The Black Tot]

Thanks for the responses guys. I know I'm getting older, crazier, and more blind, but didn't think I was that far gone yet!

Too many snowld fashioneds. I speak only with bitter jealousy.

[kjbeggs]

Too many snowld fashioneds. I speak only with bitter jealousy.

True, think I better have another before all the snow is gone!

[brettckeen]

All the 1 liter bottles that I've seen (including one a bought last week) have the embossed wheat. My guess is they purchased a boatload of the wheat embossed 1 liter bottles and don't sell near as much of that, so they are still using these.

This is a good point but I haven't seen 1ltrs available in distributor's stocks in a couple years, this size may have been discontinued at some point. I don't believe W12 is currently bottled in the 1ltr size because it hasn't been available in IL distributors for a few years.

[Travis D]

Personally, I've only seen liter bottles of W12 at Spec's in the last couple of years. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough back then. Months ago, liters were the last format I saw, buying the last case , before W12 seemed to completely dissappear from the shelves. Now that they're restocking, I'm only seeing 750s and 1.75Ls. Not sure if the liters were old stock or are normally just available to bars and restaurants?

[Travis D]

Then I stop by Spec's today and see liter bottles of W12 stocked again, first of which I've seen without the embossed wheat symbol.

[Pjcowboy]

Then I stop by Spec's today and see liter bottles of W12 stocked again, first of which I've seen without the embossed wheat symbol.

Same here is Austin