OWA Showdown

I was recently given a flight of samples of different Weller Antique 107 picks and decided it would be interesting to put them against each other.

The scale for each category is 10 points with the standard Weller Antique 107 gold top being in the middle at 5 points on each category and a combined score of 15/30. This review will be a little less in-depth because I did 7 in one sitting and there's a lot to dissect. It will however give you a good idea about these picks.

Southern Spirits: Fort Mill, SC.

Nose: Light ethanol combined with oaky maple syrup with a hint of sour cherry. 

5/10

Palate: No surprise here. Lots of oak, vanilla, and cherry.

5/10

Finish: Brings out more spice than expected. Cinnamon, pepper, oak, and ash. Some bitter notes are evident. Finishes very dry.

6/10

Takeaway: This one falls pretty flat to me. It tastes more like an Eagle Rare than an Antique. The oaky dry character makes it unique in a 107 lineup but it's a tossup between this and the regular 107.

16/30

Ferdie's: Meridian, MS

Nose: Vanilla, rounded caramel, sweet honeycrisp apple, and superglue with a hint of oak. 

7/10

Palate: It's sweet up front but bitter on the back at the same time. Though cherries are immediately evident, the industrial flavor stands out on the palate.

6/10

Finish: This one ends very dry with a lot of nutty flavor. Chestnuts, almond skin, and apricot seeds.

6/10

Takeaway: very surprised by this one. Super strange nutty finish that I'm still processing. Not bad, just unexpected. The barely bitter apricot seed was an interesting turn indeed.

19/30

Magruder's: Washington, DC

Nose: Very faint aroma on this one. From what little I can pick out, we have citrusy smells like Tangerines, and lemon; with a hint of peach and a smidge of nail polish.

6/10

Palate: Yup. There it is. the nail polish with floral and herbal notes. Most notably, anise and nutmeg.

8/10

Finish: This has a nutty finish as well. It finishes quite sweet but quickly fades into dry almonds and anise.

7/10

Takeaway: This pick is very balanced, considering it is all over the place. Somehow works together to create a pleasant experience.

21/30

Bridge Lake: Clarkston, MI

Nose: This one is oak dominant. Some fresh tobacco leaf is wafting through as well as cinnamon. There's a slight sour funk to it but its oiliness is evident here. Can't quite put my finger on what that sour note is.

6/10 

Palate: Not at all like the nose. It's light and playful. There are sour notes in here. Maybe cherry chocolate. Tastes a bit on the younger side.

7/10

Finish:

Dry finish with a bit of bite to it. Chocolate notes are evident.

6/10

Takeaway: I get the sense that this one's on the younger side, but all the flavors are very well integrated.

Total Wine and More

Nose: Wedding cake. Vanilla, hints of chocolate and orange zest. A light presence of floral perfume.

8/10

Palate: Well rounded with some bitter notes. It's difficult to pull apart but memories of peaches, vanilla, oranges, and chocolate come to mind.

8/10

Finish: Light fresh oak and chocolate. Very palatable with no sharp edges. Finishes on the sweeter side.

9/10

Takeaway: I was thoroughly surprised at this one. When I sampled this I had not realized that this was total wine. This pick has a lot of volume to it. It's thick and oily and sweet. 

25/30

Vinnin: Swampscott, MA

Nose: Another pick that has a light but pleasant nose. Strawberry candies. Little mint, and honey green tea. Elegant and balanced.

7/20

Palate: Wildflower honey. It's very sweet and powerful.

9/10

Finish: Little nuttiness. First almonds, then cherry with a hint of industrial adhesive. No bite to speak of.

8/10

Takeaway: I really think this one's a standout. It's just a pleasant beverage to enjoy. The tiny bit of bitter almond on the tail is very well integrated with its sweetness.

24/10

Misty Farris'(Lincoln Road): Hattiesburg, MS

Nose: So very well integrated that its hard to separate the flavors. It's like one awesome smell. Some herbal notes like Italian parsley and mint combine with heather and honey. All of that is dissolved onto a mixed berry/sugar reduction. It's an awesome smell. It also has a slight leathery hospital smell in the background. 

8/10

Palate: Mellow and sweet. Floral up front, with a touch of berries and oak.

7/10

Finish: Has an effervescent quality which I enjoy very much. The flavors just melt away before you have time to think about it. No bite at all. you're not even sure you swallowed it.

8/10

Takeaway: This pick's unique balance makes it less interesting but it has created a unique flavor that is unmatched by any other pick I've had.

23/30

This was definitely a fun experiment that I plan to repeat with other brands or club picks in the future. I hope you have enjoyed reading and if you would like to contribute your reviews or personal experiences, please send me an email at theprivatebarrel@gmail.com

Samples donated By Jacob Chen from DFWWC in Texas