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Decyphering bottle codes

erikrobb
Expert Junior Junior Expert
Posted on 19-01-2015 at 23:03 pm

I don't see a topic with bottle code discussion but let me know if there is one.

Does anyone know if there are websites discussing bottle codes similar to http://www.ardbegproject.com/? I see some various blog posts on websites saying that Diageo uses the first number as the year and the next 3 are the day of that year it was bottled. Ex. L9004 was bottled on the 4th day of 2009, so Jan 4th 2009.

http://www.connosr.com/wall/discussion/308505/deciphering-diageo-bottle-codes/

Has anyone seen any websites detailing bottle codes besides the one for Ardbeg? I have 2 old Dalmore 12's I found with bottle codes

L3113 G3 13:14 03\02051

L3113 G3 13:15 03\02051

I'm curious when these might have been bottled. They have the old style label with the distillery scene and a small stag head. http://www.whiskybase.com/whisky/53945/dalmore-12-year-old

Also found an older bottle of Balvenie Portwood 21 with code L34N41502303 1333 The bottle is similar to this one http://www.whiskybase.com/whisky/23452/balvenie-21-yo-portwood

I have a few other bottles that I'm curious of the age and hope there are sites with this info.  

Thanks-

Erik

 

Erik
alectron
Connoisseur Connoisseur
Posted on 20-01-2015 at 21:37 pm

Every producer & any given period of theirs can use specific codes, which makes this a tad difficult and there is no 'bottlecodeproject' website unfortunately.  Your best chance is to dig through whiskybase, google/forums & chatting to knowledgeable people about any given distillery/bottler...

One thing that's often overlooked on WB is the about page, which can hold some valuable info. i.e. I parked bottle code info on Redbreast a while ago:
http://www.whiskybase.com/brand/81510/redbreast
But, things like old G&M bottle codes, which are rather cyptic... so it would be great if the specialists for each brand/distillery can add vital info like this to the about page. But, we aren't there yet.

Cheers.
c.

Remember - whisky scores and impressions are highly subjective and situational by nature - so don't go and buy whisky according to someone else's taste...
InbhirNis
Expert Senior Senior Expert
Posted on 03-03-2024 at 11:21 am

I'm resurrecting this old thread to highlight a very handy article from Master Quill on G&M laser and bottle base codes:

https://masterquill.com/2012/09/14/gordon-macphail-codes/

3_243F6
Photo Moderator Photo Moderator
Posted on 05-03-2024 at 10:40 am

These are some of the resources I use to date old bottles. 

Tax strips Italy (and some others)

https://www.whiskyauction.com/node/1911931#Italy


Tax strips US

https://www.drinksplanet.com/dating-us-bottles-via-tax-stamps...-1205.html


Tax stamps Florida

http://www.czajkus.com/Datowanie/Floryda.htm


Tax stamps US states + some other info

https://www.minibottles.com/coll_usa_information.php#dating


Glass bottle marks (this can help estimate when the bottle was produced)

https://glassbottlemarks.com/bottlemarks/


British registered design numbers (glass bottles). This can tell you when the glass bottle design was registered, giving a lower limit to bottling period

http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/regnos.htm


Glass SC codes

https://www.whiskyauction.com/node/1911925


I also, for very old bottles, frequently search for advertising prints on google images, or in newspaper archives. These prints come with dates and images of the bottle, so are very useful. 

  Edited on 05-03-2024 at 10:49 am
hlz30
Expert Senior Senior Expert
Posted on 06-03-2024 at 02:03 am

And here's a link I frequently refer to when trying to date a Diageo/DCL bottle. Some WB users are involved in the discussion, too.

https://whisky.nethar.cz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3707

Unfortunately, the post did not mention the other (and presumably even older) bottle code system used by DCL/Diageo: the L1X YYYYYY(Y) codes, where X is a letter and the Ys are digits. I came across a Clynelish 14 Flora and Fauna bottle (black cap, wooden box) bearing an L1B code. 

3_243F6
Photo Moderator Photo Moderator
Posted on 09-03-2024 at 14:35 pm

US state tax stamps - many states. Very useful resource

http://czajkus.com/Datowanie/Datowanie.htm

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