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WTRB Batch Age/ Variance


Bourbon....Neat!
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I was in a LS this morning and found a couple bottles of WTRB with an older style labeling.  The neck tag said it was batch WT-03RB @ 108.2 proof.  I tried doing some research to figure out how old these bottles are but I can really figure it out.  I found many reviews of this bottling dating  2011 to 2015, but none of them mention if it was new/old at the time.  I also found a post in this forum from 2009 listing this batch (Below).  So my questions are: 1) How can I tell how old this batch is? 2) Is there enough variance between WTRB batches to justify paying more for an old batch?  

 

In this case, I can normally get WTRB in my area for $39.  The store is asking $59 for these bottles.  

 

 

 

 

Edited by Bourbon....Neat!
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A couple of links:

 

https://rarebird101.com/bottle-codes/

 

I find wiping an alcohol pad around the base of the bottle and holding a flash light to it is the best way to get WT bottle codes

https://rarebird101.com/2017/01/16/breed-wt-03rb-2011/

 

a review on the 03RB. I have an open bottle that I like but I do get some bitterness mid palate. 

 

Enjoy!

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I have not yet tried the new label and higher proof WTRB because I had a stash of the 108 proof so I can not tell you how the taste differs. However the 108 proof is generally sought after because of the recent proof increase. Rare Breed is a barrel proof bourbon, which would mean the barrel entry proof was roughly 108, which I believe is one of the lowest proofs of all bourbons. If you are a Wild Turkey fan, I would grab those old labels.

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8 minutes ago, Surtur said:

I have not yet tried the new label and higher proof WTRB because I had a stash of the 108 proof so I can not tell you how the taste differs. However the 108 proof is generally sought after because of the recent proof increase. Rare Breed is a barrel proof bourbon, which would mean the barrel entry proof was roughly 108, which I believe is one of the lowest proofs of all bourbons. If you are a Wild Turkey fan, I would grab those old labels.

I don't think Rare Breed is actually "barrel proof". It's a blend of three different ages and for a certain period of time over a few years it always has the same proof on the label. If it's truly barrel proof, that's a mega large batch they put together and bottled all at once. Doesn't make sense. I believe they choose a proof that they know they can safely hit with subsequent batches. This would mean some water is being added to always hit the proof on the label.

 

Regarding entry proof: at the time this RB was created, barrel entry proof was 110. It is now 115.

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29 minutes ago, Mako254 said:

A couple of links:

 

https://rarebird101.com/bottle-codes/

 

I find wiping an alcohol pad around the base of the bottle and holding a flash light to it is the best way to get WT bottle codes

https://rarebird101.com/2017/01/16/breed-wt-03rb-2011/

 

a review on the 03RB. I have an open bottle that I like but I do get some bitterness mid palate. 

 

Enjoy!

Thanks for this info.  I am a bit confused on 2013-Current bottle codes though.  The example says the first letter after the LL/ is the year.  How does D=2015?  If anything I would think D would equal 2014 being as it is the 4th letter in the alphabet. 

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2 hours ago, Bourbon....Neat! said:

I was in a LS this morning and found a couple bottles of WTRB with an older style labeling.  The neck tag said it was batch WT-03RB @ 108.2 proof.  I tried doing some research to figure out how old these bottles are but I can really figure it out.  I found many reviews of this bottling dating  2011 to 2015, but none of them mention if it was new/old at the time.  I also found a post in this forum from 2009 listing this batch (Below).  So my questions are: 1) How can I tell how old this batch is? 2) Is there enough variance between WTRB batches to justify paying more for an old batch?  

 

In this case, I can normally get WTRB in my area for $39.  The store is asking $59 for these bottles.  

 

 

 

 

Hopefully the attached chart will help you.  The 1855 Reserve referenced in the chart is the Japanese export version of Rare Breed.  I personally really liked the WT-03RB @ 108.2 and decided not to purchase purchase any of the WT-03RB @ 112.8 proof because of the mixed reviews it recieved and the fact I had a few of the 108.2 proofs in reserve.  They weren't so good that  I would pay $59 for them though.

Rare Breed batches.jpg

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Ok.....so here is what happened.   I went back to the liquor store and spoke with the owner.  He made me a deal on buying 2 bottles @ 46.99 each.  Pretty reasonable.  They are code L2110FH which I think makes them 2012 bottles.  On my way home however, I spotted a liquor store I never noticed before and decided to stop in.  They did not have much in the way of whiskey.  Some bottles of MM and Woodford next to some fireball.   But I noticed a super dusty old bottle of......guess what......rare breed sitting on top of his liquor display.  I asked him to look at it and it was priced @ $37.99 and the batch is W-T-01-99  108.4 Proof!  Of course I bought it.  Not really sure how to date the bottle.  The code is L2673230.   Based on the rarebird101 bottle code chart it might be a 2002?  Based on the batch info referenced above it is a 1999.  Either way.....Pretty cool.  Ill post pics.

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Nice, enjoy those and careful with the corks can't recommend strongly enough that you pick up an Ah So opener before cracking those, and maybe a cork extractor and a fine mesh strainer!

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9 minutes ago, kevinbrink said:

Nice, enjoy those and careful with the corks can't recommend strongly enough that you pick up an Ah So opener before cracking those, and maybe a cork extractor and a fine mesh strainer!

Thanks for the advice!  Should I use a different cork in the bottle once I open it?

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1 minute ago, Bourbon....Neat! said:

Thanks for the advice!  Should I use a different cork in the bottle once I open it?

The cork you remove will tell you by either disintegrating or by being fine. 

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1 minute ago, Bourbon....Neat! said:

Thanks for the advice!  Should I use a different cork in the bottle once I open it?

If they stay together you are good, but dusty WT corks have a high failure rate, I just keep spare corks, pretty sure the one in my WT 03 RB is from a bottle of Forgiven.

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23 hours ago, flahute said:

I don't think Rare Breed is actually "barrel proof". It's a blend of three different ages and for a certain period of time over a few years it always has the same proof on the label. If it's truly barrel proof, that's a mega large batch they put together and bottled all at once. Doesn't make sense. I believe they choose a proof that they know they can safely hit with subsequent batches. This would mean some water is being added to always hit the proof on the label.

 

Regarding entry proof: at the time this RB was created, barrel entry proof was 110. It is now 115.

 

Yes that part has always confused me a bit. At any rate it has never steered me wrong and I'm excited to try the new 115 proof. I know lower entry proof is generally better but I want to taste Turkey in the 115-120 range

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1 hour ago, Surtur said:

 

Yes that part has always confused me a bit. At any rate it has never steered me wrong and I'm excited to try the new 115 proof. I know lower entry proof is generally better but I want to taste Turkey in the 115-120 range

Better is subjective.  It is a matter of which portion of wood flavor one prefers.  IIRC, low entry proof boosts wood sugar absorption, high brings out more tannins.

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I found some evidence to support the 2002 date for this bottle.  Guess that date chart above is a little off.20180119_202823.thumb.jpg.b5dec0d0b96a1d89d581b35b4e4aec33.jpg

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^^^^^Based on the chart, it would appear that the 01-99 batch was current until '03, when the distillate went to 108.2.

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10 hours ago, Bourbon....Neat! said:

I found some evidence to support the 2002 date for this bottle.  Guess that date chart above is a little off.20180119_202823.thumb.jpg.b5dec0d0b96a1d89d581b35b4e4aec33.jpg

First let me preface this comment with this... I am NO expert on copyright law  (Harrry?   Any comments?).

I will wonder out loud (as it were) whether a copyright approved in '02 may well have issued for a label stating the same general information as a previous one, due to some change on the label other than the proof?

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Not really sure how to date the bottle.  The code is L2673230.   Based on the rarebird101 bottle code chart it might be a 2002?  Based on the batch info referenced above it is a 1999.  Either way.....Pretty cool.  Ill post pics.


Based on the Rarebird link I believe you have a 2003 bottling.

ERA: c. 1999-2006
FORMAT: L#######
TRANSLATION: L???Y???
EXAMPLE: L0611054 = 2001
LOCATION: Printed on back label or foil enclosure

Makes sense with the bottle tag that came out in 2002. Very cool find, I need to keep dusty RB on my radar.

https://rarebird101.com/bottle-codes/


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1 hour ago, HoustonNit said:

 


Based on the Rarebird link I believe you have a 2003 bottling.

ERA: c. 1999-2006
FORMAT: L#######
TRANSLATION: L???Y???
EXAMPLE: L0611054 = 2001
LOCATION: Printed on back label or foil enclosure

Makes sense with the bottle tag that came out in 2002. Very cool find, I need to keep dusty RB on my radar.

https://rarebird101.com/bottle-codes/

 

 

I think you are right.  I was looking at the 2 next to the 3 for some reason.

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