Whisky Forum - Lot numbers and bottling dates

Jonniemac · New Member Joined: 31 Jan 2016 Posts: 4

Hello,
I am a complete neophyte, so please excuse what might be a very naive question: how would one ascertain the date a whisky was bottled? I have looked at the bottle and the "tube" it came in and can find no date. There is a lot number, but I don't know how to decode it.
Thanks in advance.

opelfruit · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:18 pm Post subject:

Bottle codes are internal to the bottling plant. Generally they are meaningless to you and I, however, certain collectable brands have decoded bottle codes online, such as Ardbeg. Details can be found on tinterweb.

What whisky is it and do you have a picture of the bottle code? Some geek on here may know what it is Laughing

_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

Jonniemac · New Member Joined: 31 Jan 2016 Posts: 4

It's an Oban Single Malt, 14 years old, 750 ml, 43%. I believe it was purchased in 2005.
The code on the bottle is:
L5011M000
00078301

opelfruit · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:49 am Post subject:

opelfruit · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:56 am Post subject:

By the way, each company or distillery has their own codes, in this case it's Oban which is produced by Diageo and they use the same codes across their range, so you can search for Diageo bottle codes etc online and you may get some more information.

Hope this helps.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

Jonniemac · New Member Joined: 31 Jan 2016 Posts: 4

Well thank you. I've looked around and people on other forums have been stumped by Diageo's corporate paranoia about giving out information. The consensus amongst people who appear to be knowledgeable is consistent with yours, and it fits with what I thought about the approximate date of purchase. Now I have to sell it; drinking it is out of the question for medical reasons (tragic, I know), so the auction block it must be.
Again, thank you for your help.

Jonniemac · New Member Joined: 31 Jan 2016 Posts: 4

Well thank you. I've looked around and people on other forums have been stumped by Diageo's corporate paranoia about giving out information. The consensus amongst people who appear to be knowledgeable is consistent with yours, and it fits with what I thought about the approximate date of purchase. Now I have to sell it; drinking it is out of the question for medical reasons (tragic, I know), so the auction block it must be.
Again, thank you for your help.

opelfruit · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject:

No problem, happy help.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

IndianaBlues · Master Of Malts Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 457

opelfruit · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:25 pm Post subject:

Think so.

Most bottles are not collectable and the only reason for bottle codes is to track batches in case of issues/recalls etc. No reason for them to need any longer than a decade on a bottle, 99% are long drunk and any issues in that decade, if there are any, will have been tracked5 and recalled already.

They are interal numbers only, they're not there for consumer information.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."