Old Weller Antique 107 Brand

Every year, the LCBO is allotted some of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which are then sold through an online lottery system. This year, they added a number of other Buffalo Trace products, including Wellers, Taylors and Pappys. I was lucky enough to win three bottles - W.L. Weller 12 Year Old, Old Weller Antique 107 and the 2016 edition of George T. Stagg! I already reviewed the 12 some years ago, so let's review the other two but taste them with the 12 as a sort of comparison.

The Old Weller Antique 107 is meant to reflect the style of a bygone age (apparently). The "107" refers to the alcohol proof.

The colour is a medium reddish copper. On the nose there's some serious oak, wood smoke, vanilla and some red tannins, like a big shiraz. Floral. Mint and sage. Doesn't nose like it's 53.5%. Smokier and mintier with water. Nicely subtle and soft.

On the palate, with even bigger vanilla, mouth-pulling oak, black cherries and hints of black liquorice. Red apple skins. Menthol. Cinnamon, cumin and cayenne. Tastes like a big bourbon should, but with some subtlety and complexity.

The finish is deep with oak, beef stock and various berries (cherry, blackberry). This is simply a great, solid, well crafted bourbon, with terrific balance of fat oak and vanilla with subtle fruit and herbal notes. Compared with the W. L. Weller 12 Year Old, I would score it somewhat higher. The 12 is fruitier and smoother, but the 107 is both woodier and more layered somehow. Of course, both are great. Jim Murray scores this a 96. Side note: I looked up my tasting notes on the 12 (written five years ago) and I only scored it an 85. I would score it higher now.

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