Glenmorangie
Scotland
Single Malt
This superb Glenmorangie was created with a marriage of whiskies produced from two unique types of malted barley: a single estate Cadboll variety and malted chocolate barley, which is better known as a basis for craft beers.
The Signet was distilled twice through Glenmorangie's copper-pot stills, by a team of 16 distillers known as the 'Sixteen Men of Tain'. It was subsequently matured in bespoke American virgin oak casks before it was bottled at 46%, and received no chill-filtration.
While it carries no-age-statement, there is said to be an element of some of the distillery's oldest and rarest stocks, ranging from 35 to 40 years old, in this Highland single malt.
The Signet won Whisky of the Year in 2016, and this edition takes it name from the ornate square design that adorns most Glenmorangie bottles. The signet itself originated from the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, a Pictish artefact that dates back to around the year 800 AD.
The nose begins with chocolate raisins and sugared mixed peels. Toasted spices, bread and butter pudding and golden syrup complement these aromas, while a note of Angostura bitters lingers beneath.
Sweet, syrupy cinnamon and drying malt lead, before a suggestion of Terry's Chocolate Orange rises. A hint of lime rind is present, as are lychees and dates. The backdrop is filled with tobacco leaves and freshly roasted espresso beans, with a little honey-roasted cashew.
The finish dries and becomes pleasantly rubbery, as a touch of truffle oil emerges.
Utterly superb.
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I loved it, my wife found it too heavy. I agreed with her, allowing me sole access to the remainder! Have to say the 18 year old remains out in front for our collective taste.
Signet is simply a different scotch. We never thought we would use this terminology --- but we called it a "dessert scotch". But just because it has a sweet nose and an subtle but definitive chocolate and coffee background flavor is no reason to minimize its importance. This is a GREAT scotch and BELONGS in a well rounded cabinet.
I can tell that there is some old stuff in there! It's wonderful because it has a different nose, taste and finish all together. It's full, complex and the initial open when I nosed it resembled a bourbon. I give it a 95!
The score in question was from the 2011 Bible and therefore a little out of date - we still believe that this is an absolutely fantastic dram though! - The Chaps at Master of Malt
Sorry but I need to correct your statement about its 'Murray' score in the whisky's description. In the latest Jim Murray's Whisky Bible (2013), this whisky scored only 80 - I think your statement claiming it scored 93 without referencing which year is more than a little mis-leading...
