This single malt whisky was distilled in 2010 at a secret Speyside distillery before being placed in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry butts and ex-Bourbon Hogsheads and left to mature for 13 years. In 2024 it was bottled at 57.1% alc/vol as part of the Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Collection.
The 100 Proof Collection has become our favourite set of releases from Signatory Vintage, with their punchy, full flavoured bottlings representing incredible value in the current world of Scottish Whisky.
Mac-who? At what strength? Incredible.
Nose:Â Explosion of dried dark fruits and lashings of sherry sweetness, hints of leather and vanilla. Subtle notes of red apple, oranges, nutmeg and ginger.
Palate:Â Dried fruits of raisins and dates, vanilla and caramel, toasted oak and red apples.
Finish:Â Long with plenty of oak and oloroso sherry notes, red apples and chocolate with a big punch of spice.
Signatory Vintage are one of the veterans of Independently Bottled Scotch Whisky. Founded in 1988 by Andrew and Brian Symington. The name ‘Signatory’ was derived from the initial intention to find a person of suitable standing to sign the labels for bottles drawn from a single cask. They have one of the most well regarded stores of single cask Scotch Whisky in the industry, with a focus on high quality spirit, bottled without the need for Chill Filtration, always at natural colour. Signatory covers the entire range of whisky drinkers, with their high end Cask Strength Single Casks offering complex and rare whiskies at the high end, while their Unchillfiltered Collection provides some of the best value single malts and grains around.
Macallan is one of the world’s best known – and by value best selling – Scottish single malt whiskies. Founded in 1824, it has become a marker of prestige and quality since the distillery placed a focus on ex-sherry casks in the ’70s. That focus has continued into the present, with some reports suggesting that as many of 97% of casks filled at the distilley in the present day are sherry-seasoned before being filled with whisky. In 2017 Macallan’s owners Edrington Group commissioned a new distillery building complete with 12 wash stills 24 spirits stills that will increase production capacity from 11 million litres a year to 15 million. It was opened in May 2018 and was believed to cost £140m – the old distillery building closed December 2018. Macallan’s new make spirit is rich and oily and takes time to mature in their sherry seasoned casks, often the best expressions are in the teenage years.
