Nice review, Mike (ABCGroup, too). Well, that adds yet another twist... ABCGroup's example was made in '83 and mine in '86, and both use the older "batch" label, so we don't know the bottling date. WhiteLightning's is much newer, made in 1994, but yours, with the two dates, is one of the old green bottles (at least in the illustration) and made in '87, only one year later than mine. From that I would guess that at least my '86er might also have been really 16 years old. ABCGroup's is three years prior than that and there's no telling how old it might be, but I'd guess that one was just as good (or better).
...and, in my opinion, it may equal Rowan's Creek, but it is not the equal of Noah's Mill, a favorite of mine...
I LOVE the way bourbon is experienced completely differently by enlightened -- but different -- tasters. That's why I don't pay much attention to tasting "scores". I've always been one of KBD's most outspoken supporters, but my take vis-a-vis Rowan's Creek/Noah's Mill turns out to be exactly the opposite of yours. Although I find Noah's Mill to be simply awesome -- I think of it as Old Grand Dad 114 with the "authority" of Booker Noe -- it is Rowan's Creek that I've always held slightly ahead. In fact, I think of Rowan's Creek as KBD's most sophisticated bourbon, such that one might equal Noah's Mill but not Rowan's Creek. By the way, although it's nearly impossible NOT to make comparisons between Old Rip van Winkle and Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, because they're America's two most prominent independent bottlers (and I guess you could toss David Sherman in there, too), they really represent two very different ideas of what (at least their) bourbon should taste like, and only a very few of us who enjoy one profile also really like the other. If I had to choose only one bourbon, between Rowan's Creek and ORVW15/107 I'm afraid Pappy would win out over the Big Red One. But if the choice were between Rowan's and Weller Antique (also 107 proof, and a special favorite), I think the KBD product would be my selection. Now if it were Bakers... that might be a harder choice.
Whi'Li'... Our whiskey collection lasts because we drink very small portions. I have no doubt there will be some of my old bottle remaining by the Sampler in April. We'll bring it with us. Be there!