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Josh Peters · · 50 Comments
Weighing in at only $8 more than the Special Reserve I can say with confidence that the Old Weller Antique 107 is completely worth every penny and then some. On the quality-of-bourbon-to-dollar-scale it’s value is only surpassed by the Weller 12 which we’ll be getting into very soon.
Essentially the Antique is the same thing as a the Special Reserve except that it’s bottled at a higher proof, which really does make all the difference in the world. It’s more balanced than the Special Reserve, has a fuller body and is much more flavorful than the SR. The added proof makes it almost a completely different whiskey.
Overall, I think this is just plain great stuff and has become a staple in my house when I can’t find the 12 locally. The nose is lighter than on the 12, but crisper than on the Special Reserve and the flavor is just a tad muted when compared to the 12, but far more robust than the SR. I can’t really call it a middle ground because it’s far closer to the 12 than the SR, but no matter where you place it between the two one fact remains. It’s damn good bourbon.
ABV: 53.5%
Price: $25
Distiller: W.L. Weller and sons / Buffalo Trace
EYE
Warm caramel
NOSE
Big caramel notes combine with vanilla and a soft oak to create an aroma I could nose all day long. Honey, cherries and a mild dark fruit waltz in and out of olfactory perception with a bit of pepper lurking in the shadows.
TASTE
Caramel comes out first followed by honey, dark fruit, bourbon spice and a very pleasant bit of wood. Hanging out with these savory characters are hints of coca, notes of citrus and touches of dried dark fruits like raisins and prunes which get stronger with a splash of water.
FEEL
Hot and hangs heavy on the palate, but exceptionally easy to drink for a 107.
FINISH
Caramel and vanilla support a wood and brown sugar heavy finish that fades out ever so slowly.
SCORE: 91/100
More from The Whiskey Jug
- Weller Antique Single Barrel Review
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve Review
- Very Old Barton 6 Years Bottled in Bond Review
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Years Lot B Review
- EH Taylor Four Grain Bourbon Review
- Elmer T Lee Bourbon Review
50 Comments
Sam T August 21, 2019
The last two bottles of this I have had recently were not as good as the first. Wonder what might be going on with this?
They were in fact so bland and unsatisfying that I started Google-ing “counterfeit whiskey” but did not turn up a lot of evidence out there to support this notion.
The odd thing to me is that one random wine & spirits shop down the street (here in lower Manhattan) seems to always have 3+ bottles on hand — a few displayed in the window! — while every other purveyor is out of stock year round.
Hmm…Reply
Sam T December 5, 2018
NYC
(5)
$110 in Manhattan right now, $80 across the river in Brooklyn.
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Josh Peters December 12, 2018
Wow, interesting.
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Rick October 4, 2018
How does a 1.5 Liter for $50 sound? Got it at a local grocery store for $54 out the door. It was the lat one on the shelf too! Whew…
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Josh Peters October 5, 2018
That’s a nice find. Cheers!
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Jason Tilley March 6, 2018
I picked a bottle of this up recently and I am having my first dram tonight. This is incredible stuff. Lots of vanilla and creaminess… very very good bourbon…
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Don December 15, 2017
I live in upstate New York and the prices out here are absurd. Weller SR 750 ml are anywhere from 59.99 to 79.99, weller 107 69.99 to 89.99, and weller 12 129.99 to 189.99. It is absolutely absurd how much some of these stores will mark up a certain product based on allocation and scarcity throughout the state. When i went back home to Kansas City , MO for a week I found a few weller SR bottles on the shelf for 17.99, had to buy them all. It was like finding a unicorn haha. Love buffalo trace products.
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Tony November 7, 2017
After considerable searching I too found a bottle of Antique 107 for $22 bucks. It was very dusty and under the counter in an out-of-the-way liquor store. I cracked open the screw-cap and poured what might be my favorite bourbon of all time.
As of late I have been collecting Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #1 Bourbons and thought I had found the Holy Grail. I was close, but wrong! Now I need to find the W.L. Weller 12 and the William Larue Weller…oh and I still need a George T. Stagg.
Josh, thanks for all you do. I know it a tough job and entails a lot of sacrifice but we all appreciate it.
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Tony November 8, 2017
My out-of-the-way liquor store had a second dusty bottle hidden away. I picked it up tonight. :)
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Josh Peters November 8, 2017
That’s awesome!
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Josh Peters November 8, 2017
Cheers Tony, thank you :D
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Dave October 12, 2017
My local store has been regularly getting me the antique at $19 a bottle, and the last 2 weeks has gotten me a bottle per week of the Weller 12 for $25 a barrel!!
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Dave October 12, 2017
A bottle, not barrel
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Josh Peters November 8, 2017
That’s an insane price!
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Stephen July 12, 2017
Just found the 107 here in Asheville, NC but been looking forever lol the manager had noticed me coming in every week looking and he brought me a bottle from the back that’s suppose to be just for the bars/restaurants. I hope he knows I’m gonna be coming back hoping for more lol. Was $30 after tax
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Josh Peters August 21, 2017
That’s awesome, congrats!
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Matt Heinz June 6, 2017
I found some Antique 107 last week for 22 bucks a bottle…..needless to say I bought 6 and walked out heel clicking my boots. I have to keep the location secret as I want my honey hole to keep producing this sweet nectar
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Josh Peters June 11, 2017
I don’t blame you. Cheers!
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Ryan April 10, 2017
Just reading some of the comments and marveling at the $12/$17 for SR – hopefully we are in a 2006 housing bubble, and soon these will become available once again, but finding Weller 90 in Nashville is like finding .22 long rifle – it won’t make it a day on the shelf (and it’s >$25). Only chance at 107 is a store barrel pick, and if you’re w/in an hour of the store when they announce. That said, seems like quality stores will get an OWA pick annually, so make friends and get on Instagram.
I’m sipping on some 107 right now, and, while I won’t bore you with my tasting notes, it holds its own against the couple of Four Roses PS, Russell’s Reserve SB, and 1792 FP I’ve also “tasted” tonight. But, by now, I’m also lit. up.Reply
Josh Peters April 11, 2017
Haha, thanks for sharing. 100% agree it stands up to other SiBs and consistently delivers. Something I’m always keeping an eye out for myself as well.
Cheers!
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Daniel Margolis December 25, 2016
I just finished a bottle, and I loved it. If I can find it again, I’ll buy at least two.
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Scott June 29, 2016
Used to buy this over ten years ago when I was probably drinking more Jack than bourbon. Had not learned much and my dad, who was a bourbon drinker would get Ten High (and he easily could have afforded better). Then I used to buy it because it was cheap and the 107 proof would make it last longer. It was strong for me so I would drink it on ice and sometimes give it a splash to speed up the dilution. Then I could not find it for years and when I finally did 8 or 9 years ago, thought it tasted harsh. Recently discovered I liked the SR neat where as I used to drink it on the rocks and thought it bland. The SR goes fast and when I found a 1.75 on a recent stop, the guy told me they had some 107 behind the counter, so I bought it along with the SR. I did some mixing of the two (lame attempt at making something Pappy-like), but found I loved them both separate, neat. Last trip found only a 750 of SR so I went to my rye-bourbon go-to WT 101.
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Josh Peters July 4, 2016
Cheers Scott, thanks for sharing!
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njruss December 12, 2016
Nearly impossible to find in NJ these days. After over a year and a half, I finally found 1 bottle for $30 and was happy to get it. Just 4 years ago, it was plentiful at around $22 and was a well kept secret. Not anymore as you all know. To me, it is similar to the Van Winkle 10-year.
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Ben May 18, 2016
I Just picked up the Old Weller 107 for $39. Thw price seems high, but I’ve never experienced it because this is the first bottle I have seen in 2 years….so I bit the bullet and picked it up. I am not a big wheat bourbon guy, but I love to try new whiskeys.
Most reviews I read on the Weller 12 and 107 are very high on the bourbon, but mention what a value it is. Value is subjective, but in your opinion, Josh, is it worth the $39 price point?
$39 is typically on the lower side of my spending per bottle, I could almost purchase a bottle of K.C. Single Barrel or Russell’s Reserve (probably my favorite)for another $15.
I went through the following:
Is it new to me? Yes
Is it a unique mashbill? Outside of Maker’s…seems to be
Is it rare? Yes
Will it be here next week? Probably not…
Is it priced too high? Yes….but I do want to try it…So I picked it up along with my Glenfiddich 15 and that was that….
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Josh Peters May 23, 2016
I really enjoy it and unfortunately I think $40 is on the lower side of its pricing these days. I see it for about lot more in Los Angeles and the Weller 12 for $100+. It’s gotten out of hand, but back when it was $20 this was an amazing deal.
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Ben Danner August 15, 2016
It’s $27 here when you can find it. To me, that’s a good price. $40? that’s the top end of my budget.
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Josh Peters September 11, 2016
$27 is what I used to pay :/
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Gregg December 21, 2016
I live in SF.Bay area, One store in Oakland was asking $80 I laughed !! found some for $27 , it’s getting harder and harder to find, still looking for the 12yr
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Josh Peters December 21, 2016
Good luck on the 12 year. I see it here for $100 and it actually moves… such a weird time we live in.
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BourbonTime April 17, 2017
Here in the burbs of Georgia, Rowell to be exact, I picked up 2 bottles about 1 month apart. It $39.99 which seems very reasonable due to its scarcity. $9 over retail is a small price. The guy that paid $80 needs therapy!
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Jim February 23, 2016
Revisiting this bottle after a few weeks and I am astounded by how good this whiskey really is. So smooth, just the right amount of sweet with what I always called a “real bourbon” flavor. I only wish I could find another bottle. Love it!
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Jim March 5, 2016
Found another bottle last week. Having a second glass (neat of course!) tonight. Cheers to that winning feeling.
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Josh Peters March 7, 2016
Nice, cheers to that!
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Jim November 19, 2017
I am in heaven. My local store went to Buffalo Trace and purchased a select barrell of 107! It was a long 10 weeks to wait for it to be bottled and transported but I was able to score a bottle! I can’t wait to open it and compare it to the “standard” 107.
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Josh Peters December 10, 2017
Nice, let us know how it is!
Mike February 11, 2016
One of the few whiskies I actually prefer a splash of water in. Once the water is in, hello happy town! Great, great stuff if you can find it.
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Ben Danner February 1, 2016
Love this stuff when I can find it…Cinnamon Candy tingle that stand up to ice. Smooth as glass neat, so be careful, the 107 proof will sneak up on you.
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Joe Tanksley January 10, 2016
That Old Weller is on point! Mine had a screw this on cap??? Kinda gave me the impression that it wouldn’t be that good, but it is.
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Josh Peters January 12, 2016
I like that they don’t skimp on the screw cap, it’s a nice solid one. :)
Cheers!
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Jim January 17, 2016
LOL – It is a good solid screw cap. Just like Wild Turkey 101 (one of my regular favorites.)
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Paul Womack June 24, 2015
Can’t find product (original 107 brand) in Pasadena Texas, was told it is unavailable! Please let me know if and where I can restock.
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Josh Peters June 24, 2015
Interesting. Everything I”ve read has said that Texas has the biggest Weller allocation of any state. Might need to look in a neighboring city.
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Dean April 16, 2015
I like the SR, but out her in Oregon it’s $23 for 750ml. The 12 YO comes in once a year, a case allotment per state run liquor store, and it goes directly out to the local bars/restaurants. Not available for your average guy to buy. Thanks Josh for the review of the 107, only $4 more than the SR and I will definitely give it a try this weekend.
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Josh Peters April 18, 2015
Aw that sucks. 12 is very scarce here in CA too, but the 107 is a great alternative.
Cheers!
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Shelby February 27, 2015
Dang, SR is 17 a bottle where you are? It’s $12 in Georgia. The 12 is getting harder to find but today I found many casES of the Antique. Bought a bottle along with a 1.75 of SR which at 27 dollars is a better, cheaper Maker’s. Looking forward to trying the Antique tonight. Thanks for the review.
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peter gonzales February 3, 2015
I learned years back,I am 68, that some of the best bourbon are 100%+proof. Some of the lesser known and advertised are usually pleasant surprises. The 107 is no exception to that rule and dollar for bang is as good as they come and better than expected. If you like vanilla and caramel and sweet this may be a disappointment. While it has those attributes it has the nutiness and oak as well with a hint of pepper in the middle that may not suit everyone but may be unquestionably linked to the barrel. Would I purchase it again well I have in the past and will in the future. Have not tried the 12 but when I find some will do so.
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Josh Peters February 5, 2015
Hi Peter,
Thank you for chiming in and I couldn’t agree more and I love when I can find those lesser known gems. The 12 is definitely worth seeking out, but Buffalo Trace recently announced that they will be putting it on a yearly release schedule and will no longer be available year-round. I wish you luck, it’s some mighty tasty stuff in my opinion.
Cheers!
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rericks3 January 10, 2015
Spot on review. I’m only able to get 107 in 375ml. The heat does not overpower the complexity of this whiskey, and for me is very “up front” and fades nicely into the palate. I prefer to drink this with a small splash of water. The SR is my everyday wheated Bourbon, while the 107 is my “starter”. Evan Williams BIB is my corn/rye go-to bourbon.
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Josh Peters January 10, 2015
Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
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