Generously_Paul
Weller Antique 107 Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
May 21, 2018 (edited August 4, 2018)
Another of the bonus samples from this round of the SDT. This time it’s a Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I do so few bourbons as my true passion is with single malts, but I can appreciate a quality bourbon. Let’s see how this one from W.L. Weller fares. Antique 107 is a wheated bourbon, which of course means the secondary grain is wheat instead of rye. Bottled at a respectable 53.5% ABV and as all KSB’s are, this is natural color, a red mahogany, and most likely non chill filtered.
Strong oak and varnish on the nose, with cinnamon and clove and sawdust. Very floral with a hint of mint. The wheat brings red fruits, berries and apple skins. Vanilla, cotton candy, pink bubblegum, brown sugar and toffee. Roasted and salted corn, a little pepper and a nice subtle tobacco note. A little water doesn’t seem to add much, but brings out more of the florals, especially honeysuckle and a honey note.
Charred oak and a slightly metallic note on the palate, but it’s not a bad metallic. Corn, vanilla, apples and orange peel. Barrel char/charcoal, toffee, caramel, cinnamon and clove. Candy corn and licorice round it out. Water brings a more defined corn, but softens everything else.
A medium to full bodied mouthfeel, oily, mouth coating and dry.
The finish is medium long with corn, fruity and oak.
This bourbon is further proof of why I prefer wheated bourbons. Softer, fruitier and not nearly as harsh as some high rye bourbons can be. This one is well made, and the $27 price tag makes it even more attractive. It won’t knock your socks off, but it is quite good and a great value. 3.75-4 and another big thanks to @Scott_E for the sample.
Cheers
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@BeppeCovfefe I’m really not a bourbon drinker. Scotch is where my wheelhouse is. If I had to pick a favorite bourbon in a reasonable price range I’d say Elijah Craig or Four Roses. The Col. Taylor 4 grain was spectacular
If 107 doens't "knock your socks off" then i question what it is you have to drink on a daily basis. This is FAR and away better than many bourbons on the shelf many at 3, 4 or 5 times the price.
Totally agree with @LeeEvolved ...1792 or Henry McKenna BiB is just as good (the latter isn’t Wheated though)
All of the Weller stuff here in Virginia is listed cheap, but good luck finding any actual bottles on the shelf. It gets scooped up and put online for over $100 a bottle. They can have it, I’ll grab a bottle of 1792 and save my $75.
Good to know you didn’t pay an exorbitant amount for this one @Scott_E. It’s a good bourbon, but I agree, not worth more than $50
A price above $45 makes this a questionable purchase. Above $50, I probably would be looking at something else.
I paid $39 at a local store. I picked it up because I like wheated bourbons as well as the decent price which is on par with Makers Mark.
One of the few advantages of living in a control state...when I can find this one (or the Weller 12) it is at MSRP. This is a great $30 bourbon and I pick it up every time I see it.
@Rick_M @Generously_Paul. There’s a few stores that do that, I guess to increase foot traffic? Hoping we’d walk out with something. There’s one local place here that does that...but the jokes on them, cause I’ll just go and sample all the free cheese and crackers. Can almost make a meal of it. And then walk out with nothing but a full belly. Surprised I’m not barred from that place already...
@Rick_M I didn’t realize this was one of those secondary market specials. Well, at $30 it’s a steal, and I’d say up to $50 it’s worth the price. After that, maybe worth it for some, but I’ll pass
Total Wine pulls the same crap and worse. They show stuff at great prices and “in stock” but you better call before you waste the gas.
@Generously_Paul - if you take a closer look at Ace Spirits you’ll see they are sold out at that price. They have the William Larue Weller at $125 and it sells for over $500 (also sold out). Weller 12 @ $50, sold out and sells for $150 everywhere else.
Perhaps @Scott_E can weigh in on the situation.
@Generously_Paul wow...NJ has $79. Starting...going up as high as $299. At that price, I oughta load up in MI and sell in NJ
@PBMichiganWolverine I triple checked the Michigan price book and it shows $26.99. Ace Spirits in MN has it for $29.99
@Generously_Paul even on wine-searcher, this comes up at $70+
@cascode that’s highway robbery. No way would I recommend it at that price
$27. Huh. This costs anywhere from US$90-120 in Australia. :-(