Truthfully speaking, factoring in all the variables, Glenmorangie Signet is my favorite single malt. It is a uniquely crafted masterpiece with a rich distinctive profile that is unrivaled among whisky’s of its ilk and cost class. When Signet is brought up in conversation, you can expect to hear “chocolate in a glass” from anyone who has tried it and anyone who knows me, knows I love my chocolate!
Glenmorangie markets this release to perfection, with a sleek regal bottle design combined with dramatizing the secrecy surrounding the recipe and ages of the casks they use to blend this magic juice but… when you create such a consistent expression like this, then you can have a little fun things and people will play along. Plus, it’s that visage that makes this bottle so intriguing and why its always proudly placed on the top shelves of whisky collections around the world displayed in a way it will always remain an interesting conversation piece and an even more impressive pour.
Created by Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Bill Lumsden, this creation was the first single malt to use a method that involves roasting ‘chocolate malt’ barley at high temperatures which evidently brings out that chocolate taste we are all so familiar with. In combination with this process, some of the distillery’s rarest and finest of their collection, aging for as long as 30+ years in bespoke designer casks which are blended together meticulously to create this chef-d’oeuvre. The Glenmorangie Distillery actually shuts down for a full week each year, known as Signet week, to focus solely on the production of the ‘chocolate malt’ which is roasted in much smaller quantities in order to persuade out those rich flavors of chocolate and espresso. The rest of the profile is created by the assortment of casks selected for maturation including ex-Bourbon, sherry butts and even new charred oak.
ABV – 46% / Age – unknown / Mash – 100% Malted Barley / Region – Scotland (Highlands) / Cask – ex-Bourbon & ex- Sherry butts & new charred oak
NOSE – Terry’s chocolate orange combined with malt, raisins and an array of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, etc. Honestly reminds me of walking into my moms house after baking her signature coffee cake.
PALATE – This is where the chocolate and espresso flavours come in droves along with a beautiful sweetness of dark fruits like blackberries, plums, and BC cherries and a perfect accompaniment of oak cask influences of bourbon and sherry.
FINISH – Classic highland like finish with some subtleties of chocolate and espresso remaining. Slightly dry and spicy down the throat.
Magnificence in every aspect and a perfect low calorie substitute for desert after a nice dinner. I strongly advise everyone to own it.
Rating – 9.6/10
- Review by Steven Shaw
