Signatory Glenrothes 1997 46%
$157.99
A pair of Hogsheads become a little more than just the sum of their parts in this neat little treat from Signatory Vintage, released as part of their Un-Chillfiltered Collection. And why is it a treat? Well...quite frankly, most Glenrothes we see is fairly heavily sherried and offered at either 40% or 43%. This 21 year old, however, is bourbon-led and given to us at a much more respectable 46%. Expect some healthy spice, cereal notes, soft honey, ginger and crunchy apple tones. Lovely and far too drinkable.
46% abv
Signatory Strathisla 2008 46%
$109.99
A sweet little indie from arguably Scotland's most picturesque distillery. Just a single pair of bourbon barrels were married to create this 10 year old single malt released under Signatory's Un-chillfiltered Collection. Expect something a little softer - led more by gentle stone fruits, barley sugars and clean hardwood - than the more heavily-sherried expressions of Strathisla we know and love. This one is a while-making-dinner sort of dram.
46% and, of course, not chill filtered.
Signatory Carsebridge 1982 35yr 48.9%
$360.49
This Signatory bottling of the very hard to come by Carsebridge Single Grain was distilled in 1982, just one year before the Lowlands distillery closed for good. This Refill Butt was bottled in 2018 at the age of 35 years old with a cask strength of 48.9% ABV. 500 bottles were released, with only 12 coming to Canada - exclusive to Kensington Wine Market!
Carsebrige was a Grain Distillery located in the Lowlands of Scotland. It began production way back in 1799 and was closed for good in 1983. The distillery itself is long since demolished.
Signatory Clynelish 1995 53.7%
$281.99
A quick note for the uninitiated: Clynelish is king. There is simply no distillery in the whole of Scotland (and probably the world) that is producing whisky that hits the same sort of flavour nuances as Clynelish. Namely...wax. Spent candles, beeswax, resin, melting paraffin. There are other notes at play too, of course, but it's that distinct waxy characteristic that puts Clynelish in a stead of its own. And just where does that waxiness come from? A good question. The cleaning regimen, the separation of low wines from foreshots/feints, or...most likely...a bit of both (long story...let's discuss in person). Either way, you REALLY, REALLY want to spend some time getting to know this malt from Sutherland. Trust me.
This particular '95 Clynelish from Signatory is a beast. Heavily-sherried and still big and bold, even after 23 years in wood. The sherry is of an old school style. Give it ten minutes or so in the glass and you'll start to notice all those waxy notes slamming head on into antique sherry (furniture polish, bittersweet chocolate, dried fruits and a slightly mince note). This is a must have bottling. Both typical and atypical of the distillery's abilities at once.
53.7% abv
Duncan Taylor Octave Craigellachie 52.9%
$112.99
Scotch Malt Whisky Society G15.4
$151.99
THERMONUCLEAR BANANA
This 10 year old malt whisky, distilled in a continuous still and bottled at 58.3%, spent 8 years in a bourbon barrel before finishing its maturation in a 2nd fill hogshead.
GOLD MEDAL WINNER AT THE INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS CHALLENGE 2018.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 239 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A luscious nose of pear flesh, pear drops, sugar cubes, spiced rum, dried mango, precious hardwoods, tobacco leaf and fudge. An immensely fruity dram with big notes of bananas flambeed in cognac, banana and vanilla milkshake, rancio and custard. Water reveals some remarkably tropical notes: oranges, kiwis, papaya and guava.
To taste, it is almost fat in texture. The wood spices nibble at the edges of the palate while the fruit sits plump and unmoving with buddha-esque tranquillity in the middle of the tongue. Pineapple syrup, coconut water, lime oil, fruit chews and star fruit. Reduction gives tonic water with lime, passion fruit sours, coconut milk and Thai basil. Previously in a bourbon barrel for 8 years."
Signatory 30th Annv Ben Nevis 1990
$779.99
Bottled as a part of Signatory 30th Anniversary special releases, this 27 year of Ben Nevis is from a single Fino Sherry Butt No. 1505, bottled at 59.4%. Only 2 of the 593 bottles have come to Canada, exclusively to KWM. One bottle was opened as part of our Signatory's 30th Anniversary tastings, leaving just 1 for sale.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: Eatmore candy bars, candied nuts and firm new leather; espresso beans and jujubes coated in dark chocolate; Russian caramel, with dried fruits; classic oxidized fino sherry notes.
Palate: big, rich and nutty with prominent fino sherry notes; more firm new leather, loads of candied nuts and Eatmore; the Russian caramel and dried fruits are still there with more tropical notes of cooked pineapple and spicy mango salsa; decadent spices throughout.
Finish: medium in length, bold, drying and sherried with spices and dried fruits; more flor.
Comment: this is a very rich and nutty Ben Nevis, with the Fino Sherry really making its mark; no sulphur, though it is leaning toward the leathery-oxidized style of sherry; one of the most interesting and complex BenNevis I've tried; a bolder side of this malt, almost Glenfarclas-y!
Signatory 30th Annv Cragganmore 1985
$985.99
Bottled to mark Signatory's 30th Anniversary, only 2 bottles are coming to Canada, and we are opening one of them for a pair of tastings. 88pts Serge at WhiskyFun.org. Bottled at 33 years and 53.4%. One of the surprise standouts of our Signatory 30th Anniversary Tastings!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: creamy, waxy, honeyed and floral with clotted cream and a basket of mixed orchard fruits; bursting with vanilla, beeswax and dewy summer gadens; sage and lavender; apples, peaches and melons; soft, decadent toasted oak; trending toward tropical fruits.
Palate: still waxy, bursting with honey, vanilla and settling in to toasted oak and clotted cream; bursting with sweet caramel and more orchard fruits: candy apple, peaches n cream, midori mellon and even brighter tropical fruits: kiwis and pineapple; decadent spcices start to build along with savoury floral tones.
Finish: long, coating, warming, decadent and elegant; layers of cream, oak, fruit and spices; starts to show its age at the end, but still within balance.
Comment: this malt showed well during both nights of our Signatory 30th Anniversary Tasting, and it doesn't disappoint here; remarkable how rich, fruity and decadent it is after 33 year with just the faintest trace of bitter oak on the finish; surprising for a presumably fresh, ex-Bourbon Hogshead of this age; possibly the best Cragganmore I've ever had.
88pts Serge
"I find it extremely cool that Signatory would have kept some old Cragganmore! Not that they grow on trees… Colour: pure gold. Nose: wham! Old bourbon, vanilla, earl grey, box of cigars, miso soup, camphor, lavender (touches, do not worry), pine sap, drops of yellow Chartreuse… Perfecto! With water: ho-ho-ho, it’s turning around, with bandages, old ointments, mercurochrome, pine sap, camphor, eucalyptus, Vicks’ very best, assorted pain relieving rubs… Mouth (neat): it’s funny that it would start rather bourbony again (and I mean Papy-y stuff and such), as well as rather plankish – but not problems at all here. Vanilla pods, some herbal teas (many of them), cedar wood… Hope it’ll swim well, could be tricky given the oak… With water: it gets gentler, rather cake-y and a little sour in some corners… All that in a good way. Finish: rather long, flirting with the limits of oakiness at times, which, in my book, will prevent it from making to 90. Oh well, you’re right, who cares… Comments: it’s not impossible that this old Crag’ was better when Signatory celebrated their 20th, but we’re really getting too fussy down here, aren’t we. SGP:451 - 88 points."
Signatory 30th Annv Glenlossie 1984
$1,129.99
Exclusive to KWM, this 33 year old Signatory has bee bottled at 56.7% after maturing in a single Refill Sherry Butt, No. 2533. 530 Total Bottles. We brought in just 2, one for a special tasting leaving only one more for us to sell! Part of Signatory's 30th Anniversary line. Distilled: 01/10/1984. Bottled: 27/07/2018.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: old school sherry, sticky toffee pudding and treacle sauce; Demerara sugar, cold tea and a hint of old Cognac: perfumed grape-y fruits, soft earthy leather and fruity tobacco; candied orange, caramel apple and dried, diced tropical fruits.
Palate: rich, round and fruity; more old school sherry notes, sticky toffee pudding with treacle sauce floating in vanilla cream; tastes old, antique-y and Cognac-like; more grape-y fruits, earthy leather and fruity tobacco, not so much the perfume; on the subject of fruits, more orange (peels this time), dried apple chunks and some more tropical ones too: melons, mango and papaya; becomes increasingly spicy with everything from cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger to Dutch licorice; there is even some dark chocolate with chili oil.
Finish: though the palate is big, bold and layered the whisky finishes more subtly; I hesitate to say the finish is short, it is just much lighter than the palate with vanilla, dried fruits and spices lingering long.
Comment: Glenlossie is an underappreciated malt, and one we rarely see bottled anymore; this is a lovely Glenlossie, very old school style sherry with a lovely nose and palate; the only weak point, if you can even call it that, is the finish; very elegant and spicy!