Somewhere between 1941 and 1962, as the labels display "CV" (which was the legal company type description as of 1941) and do not use the word "Plantiac" yet (which was introduced in 1962). It should be noted that this might not be "Vieux" at all, as "Cognac Vieux" basically means "Old Cognac" so it could be actual Cognac (i.e. brandy).
Compare the topmost label shape to the "Jenever" one in "Products" > "Other" > "What was there?" (click here). They are probably of similar age. It is likely the oldest of the two, as growing efficiency generally demands simpler label shapes (easier to process using machines).
Pictures from Edwin Kemner (drankminiaturen.nl).
The 1940s (or maybe from 1937) to 1957 (or earlier).
Plantinga's Cognac brand. Predominantly dark label, Art Deco style. Texts: "PLANTINGA'S COGNAC", "ZACHT EN BELEGEN" and "BOLSWARD". With one of the bottles, a thin strip connects the main label to the bottle neck label. The bottle colour is transparent green. The b/w picture is from a 1940 Price List. It is unknown which of these bottles is the older design, though the labels are the same.
Colour scan by Bastiaan Plantinga, others by Peter Mulder.
From 1957 (or earlier) to 1962. This picture is from a 1957 advertisement.
Predominantly light label, with three stars present above and outside the shape of the main label. The three stars part of the label connects with a thinner strip to the bottle neck label. The order of text is "PLANTINGA", then the Plantinga crest, "COGNAC VIEUX", "ZACHT EN BELEGEN", a very short sentence (perhaps one word, maybe "Bolsward"?), a longer sentence, and an even longer sentence in smaller font. These three last sentences are illegible in the available picture material. At the very bottom of the label there's a rectangle with text and the signature of Louwrens Baltus Plantinga, grandchild of Klaas Plantinga, across is. This signature would remain on the labels forever. Although the text in that rectangle cannot be made out, it is very likely the same as on the 1966-1973 labels.
Bottle colour is not certain (available picture material is all black/white), might even be opaque.
Picture from Bastiaan Plantinga.
1966 to 1973.
The very short sentence/word becomes "K. PLANTINGA & Zn. C.V.", the longer sentence becomes "DIST. 1ste KLASSE BOLSWARD LEEUWARDEN", the even longer sentence in smaller font size disappears. The thin strip reads "PLANTINGA BOLSWARD LEEUWARDEN". The family crest now also has "Anno" and "1870" worked into it, to its left and the right respectively, and "DE PLANTER" can be read in the banner under it. The rectangle at the bottom reads "WIJ VERKLAREN DAT DIT PRODUCT ZACHT EN BELEGEN VERVAARDIGD IS VAN PRIMA GRONDSTOFFEN EN GARANDEREN DE KWALITEIT ONVOORWAARDELIJK MITS DE CAPSULE ONGESCHONDEN IS."
The bottles have a screw cork and no back label.
The 500 cc bottles do not fully adhere to the 1000 cc design. The 500 cc label, for example, has no thin strip from the stars to a possible neck label (which might not even be there). Also, the support colour is dark blue instead of orange-red. It does have the sharp star corners and the dots to the left and the right of the "PLANTINGA" logo.
The photographs of the bottle are by Bastiaan Plantinga, the rest are provided by Peter Mulder.
1973 to 1978 (or perhaps as early as 1974).
The thinner strip between the main label and the bottle neck label, and the bottle neck label itself, disappear. The three stars are still above and outside the shape of the main label, though that part of the label has rounder corners there than previous versions. Also note the little dash under "ZACHT EN BELEGEN" having gone, and the "PLANTINGA" text no longer having dots on both sides. This is the first 1000 cc Plantiac bottle type to actually specify the amount it contains: "INH." to the left of the family weapon and "1L" to its right.
Of the miniature bottles that probably belonged to this periode, the top one is significantly and has a content of 50 cc. The bottom (40 cc) miniature is probably less old than the other. All bottles have regular screw caps from now on and are transparent green.
1978 (or maybe 1974) to 1982 (or perhaps 1981).
The three stars merge into a curved upper part of the main label. Still no bottle neck label. Texts change to "PLANTIAC" (no more big "PLANTINGA"), the Plantinga weapon, "VIEUX", "ZACHT EN BELEGEN", "K. PLANTINGA & Zn. C.V." en "DIST. 1ste KLASSE BOLSWARD" (no more "LEEUWARDEN"). The second bottle displayed is likely a 500 cc one, missing some of the text of the 1000 cc version.
Note that the 40 cc miniature bottle has machine-made indentations at its bottom edge, not present on bigger size bottles. There is reason to doubt that Plantiac miniatures were ever made after this time period.
All bottles sizes were probably still green at the time. 1000 cc label and 500 cc bottle pictures by Bastiaan Plantinga.
From 1982 (or maybe 1981) until 1993 (or 1994).
The border style around the three stars has changed. The location of the Plantinga family weapon is moved down. The order of the texts is now "PLANTIAC", "VIEUX", "extra zacht en belegen" ("extra" was added), followed by the family weapon. A bottle neck label is re-introduced, featuring the "Plantiac" name crowned by three stars. Thicker content quantity and "extra zacht en belegen" font type. The back label mentions a barcode: 8 710631 001865 (200 cc), 8 710631 001858 (500 cc), 8 710631 001841 (1000 cc). The extra rectangle with text at the bottom of the label is no longer there, now replaced by a shorter text in the gold-coloured border, "DISTILLEERDERIJ EERSTE KLASSE K. PLANTINGA BOLSWARD". The gold bottom border also contains a specification of the amount contained. Note the machine-made indentations at the bottom edge of the 200 cc back label. The bottles are no longer transparent green but entirely see-through. Also, they now have the typically shaped bottom with 6 rows of diamonds (4 rows on 500 cc bottles).
Scan of the 200 cc label by Peter Mulder.
????.
The change is that "extra zacht en belegen" now becomes "extra zacht". The text in the bottom gold border is now "PLANTIAC IS EEN GEDESTILLEERD PRODUCT BEREID VOLGENS TRADITIONEEL RECEPT". The back label text has also changed.
It is not known whether these labels were used before, after, or maybe even during the previous period. Before is not logical because I scanned these labels when making the first version of this site in 1998 and there was no way I had such old labels. After isn't logical either, because the new "dark blue" design was just around the corner. During is not logical either. Between 1989 and 1993, when we discovered Plantiac, we have at any rate only seen labels of the previous type.
From 1993 to around 2000.
Labels change from the predominantly white ones to predominantly dark blue ones, the biggest change since 1957. The top now features a more stylized family crest, with "ANNO" to the left and "1870" to the right. Below that we get "PLANTIAC", three stars, "VIEUX", "EXTRA ZACHT" and then the lowest text being "INH 1L", "PLANTIAC IS EEN GEDESTILLEERD PRODUCT VAN K. PLANTINGA & ZN, TE BOLSWARD, BEREID VOLGENS TRADITIONEEL RECEPT." and "35%VOL". The "DE PLANTER" text in the banner under the family crest now reads "HET PLANTERTJE". There is no more text in the bottom gold border.
With the 200 cc versions, note the "misprint" Plantiac logo shading and the machine-made indentations at the bottom edge of the back label. Also note the bottom edge number "52313" (front label) and "52314" (back label).
The back label of the 500 cc bottle also has machine-made indentations.
Tussen 2004 en 2007.
With the production moving to Boomsma, barcodes change to 8 711114 280029 (200 cc), 711114 280036 (500 cc), 711114 280050 (1000 cc).
On the 200 cc labels, note the new barcode, but the lack of machine-made indentations at the bottom edge of the back label, as well as the "25199" number on the front label (right bottom edge, vertical).
Scans made possible by Boomsma.
2007 to current.
Labels change from wet-glued labels to sticker labels. The lowest text now contains "PLANTIAC IS EEN GEDESTILLEERD PRODUCT VAN vh K. PLANTINGA & Zn., TE BOLSWARD, BEREID VOLGENS TRADITIONEEL RECEPT." (i.e. they added "vh", which means "voorheen" i.e. "previously"). The rear ticket now also mentions "vh in Bolsward".
Note that the 500 cc label mentions it is now made in Leeuwarden at Boomsma, as well as the "25201" number (right bottom edge, vertical, front label).
The 200 cc bottle labels do not feature the "vh in Bolsward" text, in fact do not seem to have changed at all compared to the 2004-2007 version.
Scans made possible by Boomsma.
These are the official designs for the Plantinga bottles (currently used for 200 cc and 500 cc bottles of Plantiac as well as Frisian Red Berry Gin). For the entire PDF documents, click here for the 200 cc bottle and here for the 500 cc bottle.
Half litre Plantiac bottles were last produced in 2007. The then product owner (Boomsma), bought up all empty half litre bottles from the previous product owner (UTO) and did one production run.