Deciphering Diageo Bottle Codes?

Interesting the post didn't place the numbers on two separate lines as directed. Perhaps I underestimated the lengths which Diageo is willing to take to keep this their codes a secret ;) Let's try again:

T10 L2220CM000 (first line)
04020173 (2nd line)

L16 L2241CM000 (1st line) 04627172 (2nd line)

L2220CM000 04020173 - take the 1st four numbers just after the L.....2220.....From what I recall - the 2 represents the year so it's from 2012.....The 220 is the day of 2012 in which it was bottled - so it was bottled on a Tuesday August 12th of 2012.

L2241CM000 04627172 - Tuesday August 28th 2012.

www.calendar-365.com/day-numbers/2012.html

And yes - I've noticed similar markings from different distilleries...When in doubt - you can always send an email to the distiller...9 times outta 10 they'll be more than happy to respond.

Thanks @FMichael, That was very helpful and very fast. Do you have an idea as to what the other letters and numbers might mean? If you don't, I may check with the distillery as suggested.

@NAV26 To be honest I haven't a clue as to what the 2nd line of numbers represent - however if you were to email the distillery they would probably give you all the info you desire.

Best of luck!

Just a wild guess:

If the first 4 number are the year and day of that year. Then the CM000 is the bottling location (as a lot of distilleries don't bottle themselves). Both bottles would then be bottled at the same location.

The second line is a unique bottle number, which could be why the Laga has a higher number than the Tali, as it was bottled later that year. According to the calculations of @FMichael between August 12th and August 28th there would be more than 600.000 bottles bottled then.

Think this could be possible?

I just sent an email to malts.com@consumer-care.net for the classic malts site. I will let you know when I get an answer back.

@NAV26 Awesome discussion thread. This is the kind of whisky geek stuff I find fascinating. Thanks for asking for help on this topic and sharing this with us. :)

Interesting response from Classic Malts that provides less help than the Connosr Community. Here it is:

Thank you for taking time to contact Multi Classic Malts. Your feedback is important to us.

In regards to your inquiry, unfortunately the codes you provided in addition to the Lot code are proprietary information and we are unable to advise you further in this matter. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Once again, thank you for contacting Multi Classic Malts.

Sincerely,

Pretty Strange Response?

@NAV26 Disapointing indeed. They may see this a corporate intel :)

I doubt that a smaller independent distiller would react the same as this global player. Don't get me wrong, I both love Talisker and Lagavulin and have much respect for the craftsmanship of these distilleries and their workers. But Diageo is just a big commercial giant.

Maybe a member that has connections on the inside can tell us a bit more.

@wtrstrnghlt

Agreed on Diageo, the non and new mega brand distilleries (Glendronach, Glenfarclas, Benriach) among my Liberian collection do have very transparent presentations dates and times for their bottling systems.

I asked for confirmation on @Fmichael's proposed dating system, they wouldn't confirm. I think you are exactly right about suspecting me of corporate intel or they saw my post here on connosr traced the bottles and are very upset and don't want to talk ;)

I have really like my previous bottles of Talisker and especially Lagavulin 16 but these last two bottles in question showed a respective drop from very Good/Great to Good/very good. I suspect that I am not the only one that has noticed this and I wonder about possible causes (poorer casks, change in the blending of expressions, oversales to IBs).

Finally, It peeves me just a little that they are unable to provide me with information about a bottle coding system that is probably required to be placed on their bottles by law... otherwise why wouldn't they just keep it a proprietary secret in the first place. Not going to fight them on this but it doesn't seem to be a very sensible response to my inquiry.

@NAV26 the bottling codes are definitely obligated by law for all food and drinks. If there should be any faults made during production, the producers of the items are responsible to recall all products. Batch codes, bottle codes, etcetera are then used to communicate and inform stores and customers to send back their stock / purchase.

Although sadly they don't have to tell you war the combination of letters and numbers mean.

But surely someone of Connosr can tell us something about the bottling process, bottling locations and capacity of Diageo distilleries.

Now I just want to know and get to the bottom of this! :)

@NAV26 Must agree that either it's poor customer sevice, or the rep handling your email isn't capable (as in maybe it's intern), or does not wish to answer your question...

Either way it's a shame.