Old Weller Antique 107, Cask Single Barrel #43 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Nose: From the first aroma I’m reminded more of Weller 12 than I am of OW107 – much sweeter and more fruit forward. Sugared strawberries, dried apricots, sour green apples, lemon, rhubarb, dried fruit leather – tons of orchard fruit, all interlaced with iced cinnamon roll, cinnamon dough, sugar donuts, cherry Jolly Rancher, a definite ripe strawberry note and big cotton candy. Quite buttery (think Maker’s 46). The nose is significantly softer than other expressions of Weller 107 where the spice and the alcohol burn can be the most assertive notes. In this single barrel, you do find those pronounced red woody spices that are signature of the OW107 nose, but they are much more balanced. It really reminds me more of Weller 12, but more like a barrel proof Weller 12. The nose rounds out with sweet bread loves and glazed jerky. A very refined and rich nose but in a velvety demeanor. This nose has panache with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Palate: Immediate, classic red wood/woody and cinnamon spices that define OW107 on the tip of your tongue but this expression shows much more dried fruit than usual, with those spices. These signature spices of cinnamon and clove climax almost mid palate. Lots of red cherry notes start here and turn medicinal and cough syrupy…syrupy, in fact, is the best way to describe this palate however it maintains a nice dryness also that creates a very harmonious balance in texture. Big bold black pepper notes cut through the dryness. Maple syrup, wheat, orange rind and the alcoholic bite thats is often associated with OW107 comes in the from of paint thinner, sweeter and not astringent at all. Caramel, smoke, like brush on fire and a bitter note close the ending out. Overall, this barrel takes Weller 107’s potential and outdoes even that. This single barrel displays near perfect balance between sweetness and spice with the perfect amount of bitterness. Everything you love about OW107 is in this bottle but with far more finesse and a fervent sense of balance. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Finish: Your mouth almost feels sticky from the sweetness as the finish sets in. Long, sweet and, interestingly enough for OW107, a subtley spicy finish – the spice is definitely present, but its not so in your face and is kept in check with the sweeter notes. The lightest of smoke, gooey Demerara sugars, and crushed cinnamon stick. Nougat and buttery dough. Hints of burnt sugar and smoking wood, like from a BBQ pit. Spice now lingers to no more than a hum but it makes sure you don’t forget you were just sipping none other than OW107. Lastly, red cherry from the palate shows up in both the medicinal and Claey’s Hard Candy drop sense. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Bourbon and House Rating: 92 _______________________________________________ www.bourbonandhouse.com