We've got a couple of releases from Signatory's 100 proof range.
Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Edition 31 - Bunnahabhain 8yo
Region: Islay
ABV: 57.1%
Price: £45.00
This unpeated small-batch release is a vatting of multiple first-fill Oloroso and second-fill sherry butts. These were distilled in 2016, and left to mature until 2024.
Nose
The nose opens with notes of toffee cinders, fudge, chewy caramel, fresh cherries, prune juice, and a touch of ginger. There’s a hint of pepper spice, but the alcohol is surprisingly subtle given the ABV. On revisiting, additional layers of maraschino liqueur, sour strawberry sweets, lightly roasted coffee, and a touch of chocolate emerge.
Palate
The palate mirrors the nose with dominant notes of chocolate, caramel, and toffee. There’s a slight spice from the ABV, but it’s remarkably smooth given the alcohol content. Orange notes feature prominently, accompanied by ginger jam. The mouthfeel is good, though not exceptional. The finish is of a good length, with plenty of dark chocolate sweetness lingering. Overall, it’s pleasant, but a touch simple.
Nose (with water)
With water, the nose reveals more treacle, a hint of warehouse funk, and a touch more black pepper. However, some of the fruit notes have faded, replaced by a more synthetic sweetness. With time, additional notes of beef gravy and cinnamon spice emerge. We’re torn on whether the addition of water has been an improvement.
Palate (with water)
The reduced palate retains plenty of dark chocolate sweetness on the finish, but there’s now more spice from the mid-palate through to the good-length finish. Most of the pre-diluted notes remain intact, and the mouthfeel is relatively unchanged.
Conclusion
It delivers exactly what it promises on the tin—Bunnahabhain plus sherry. It’s a well-made dram with plenty to enjoy. If we had to nitpick, it would be that it feels slightly one-dimensional. Any truly interesting notes seem to have been smoothed out in favour of creating something broadly appealing.
Score: 7/10
Value
We’ve undoubtedly said this before, but it remains true—these small batch releases from Signatory consistently offer some of the best value you’ll find.
Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Edition 30 - Orkney (Highland Park) 14yo
Region: Highlands
ABV: 57.1%
Price: £43.50
This small-batch release is a vatting of multiple first-fill Oloroso sherry butts. These were distilled in 2010, and left to mature until 2024.
Nose
The nose opens with notes of red cola, Manuka honey, pepper, prunes, cashew nuts, and a very light touch of ashy peat. With a little time in the glass, additional notes of brown sugar, burnt toast, heather, and pine cones emerge. It’s easy enough to nose and pleasant overall, though it leans a bit on the simple side.
Palate
The palate is a bit too spicy for our liking, with chilli spice dominating initially. However, behind it, there are notes of Manuka honey from the nose, along with cloves, candied ginger, rancio, pine cones, corn crisps, prunes, and tobacco. The mouthfeel is reasonable, and there’s plenty of sherry sweetness on the finish, though the spice lingers a bit too much for our liking.
Nose (with water)
With water, the nose is largely unchanged, though some of the sherry notes have diminished slightly. There’s a touch more smoke coming through now, but overall, it remains much the same.
Palate (with water)
With water, the palate has lost some of the more aggressive sherry notes, though not enough to make the spirit’s character easily identifiable. The mouthfeel remains unchanged, while the finish is slightly shorter and now features a hint of Kahlua alongside the existing notes.
Conclusion
Like most of these 100 proof releases, this is a good, but not exceptional, example of well-made sherried whisky. However, in this case, the cask influence is overwhelming, leaving little to no trace of the underlying spirit.
Score: 6.5/10
Value
Even older and cheaper than today’s other review which was already a bargain.
- 10 - Perfection. One in a million
- 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
- 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
- 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
- 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
- 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
- 4 - Below average. Passable.
- 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
- 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
- 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.
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