Whiskey_Hound
Weller Antique 107 Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
December 2, 2019 (edited February 6, 2020)
After having a good experience with the Special Reserve and a phenomenal experience with the 12, it's natural that I've had my eye on the Antique 107 for some time. I've been a huge fan of the Weller line (it's a shame to see prices skyrocket). Let's dive in.
Nose: Red hot cinnamon and spicy oak. Strong black tea note. Behind that is caramel, leather, and nutmeg, brown sugar, and allspice. A touch of spearmint that I also got in the 12 year. There is a faint cherry note, but it's more subtle than most BT products. High ABV is evident, but it's welcome here. Good start.
Palate: Here, the cherry note is out in full force. Almost Cherry-coke like, as opposed to the cherry Vick's Vapor Rub I normally get with BT. A bit grassy and very sweet: brown sugar, vanilla, and even a slight hint of apple pie. A tinge of orange peel. Big spice as well: more cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, now with black pepper. Rolling it around the tongue reveals a leather note that has been relegated to a background presence. Big oak. Solid.
Finish: Cinnamon bomb. Also some black pepper and nutmeg. Loads of oak and bit more of the orange peel. Not too complex but long and enjoyable in its own right.
Weller 107 is some brash stuff. The higher proof makes it more interesting and thus slightly superior to the SR. But the balance and and nuance that can only be achieved with age makes the 12 year the clear winner for me. Still, there certainly is a place for the kick-in-the-door style that the 107 takes on.
Having tried this, I'd love to see what the Full Proof looks like. Sadly, it's $500 at my local store. The CYPB just sold for $300... Retailers are pricing me out of this line, and BT products in general. Fortunately, I was able to find this for $80, which, considering the ludicrous over-pricing (I've seen $300 for this), was well worth the cost.
4.25. Worth the hype? Depends who you talk to. Certainly is not worth secondary market prices. But it gets the job done for me. An absolute beast of a bourbon. If you're a fan of the Weller line, or high-proof bourbon in general, I say pull the trigger. If you can find it for a reasonable price, that is.
80.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@rick_m Agreed! It's a heinous game they're playing with this stuff!
@PBMichiganWolverine I believe it was a one off, but it's gotten pretty good reviews from a lot of people. I haven't reviewed it but I'd be expecting a 3.0 - 3.5 from me which is a very strong score.
@dhsilv2 and maybe lower the output volume —higher prices on top end, but less of it to go around
@PBMichiganWolverine they'll do both though. Drop the price on the entry level spirit and increase the price on the higher end products, again what happened during the last recession. Quality of course will drop on the low end...maybe we'll see quality increase at least for us on the higher end?
@dhsilv2 but selling more doesn’t equal higher prices. I think prices will have to come down...selling more or less will depend on discretionary income spend, which depends on their souce(s) of income.
@Rick_M I think the peak is over. US is the biggest market. The 25% tariff will a) stop new investments, b) reduce prices in secondary markets. And on US side, China tariffs, now France, Argentina, Brazil will hit customer pockets ( someone needs to tell our leaders that tariffs are a tax ..Econ 101). That combined with the tax cuts, which punts costs down the line will hurt the market. Means we’ll see prices come down in US spirits as well...after all, it’s all discretionary spending
@PBMichiganWolverine man I love your optimism but the "premium" bourbon boom started during the last recession. They actually sold MORE higher end bottles during that period. Sadly, I'm not that hopeful.
@Rick_M I'm with you there brother, easily spent 5 figures at one store and their system screwed up and I'm not even in their lottery for the BTAC. Forget them hooking me up for my spending, but I'm not in the same lottery someone who's never shopped there is in.
@PBMichiganWolverine - forget about the economy, why too many distilleries coming on line and way too many new offerings by existing distilleries. Price already coming way down at UK auction houses. Life was a lot simpler when I only bought Laga16 by the case. Will soon be going back to that philosophy. :)
@Rick_M probably not at retail. But—no worries —-just wait till tariffs, taxes make the economy take a dive in a year or two. The prices will come down then
I spend 5 figures a year with liquor retailers yet can’t get my hands on a bottle of BTAC. Something wrong with this picture.