Spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange has unveiled a range of exclusive bottles from Signatory Vintage.
The Whisky Exchange has been working with the independent bottler for more than 20 years. The three new bottles have been specially selected by the team at The Whisky Exchange to show off a different side of the distilleries to that which is found in their own official bottlings.
These are the three bottlings, with tasting notes from Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange Ambassador:
Mortlach 2008 12 Years Old Cask #8000109
A Bourbon barrel-matured whisky from Mortlach - a very different prospect to the distillery's usual heavily sherried fare. The Bourbon cask reveals some of the Mortlach spirit's rich and fruity nature, while adding its own creamy character.
The nose carries barley sugar, green apples and vanilla with developing notes of Dolly Mixtures and coconut. The Dolly Mixtures and vanilla continue into the palate with a touch of spicy oak. The finish is soft, long and buttery.
The whisky is bottled at 57.1% ABV, with 177 70cl bottles available priced at £73.95. It is available here.
The Glenlivet 2007 13 Years Old Cask #900243
This is the latest in a series of "sherry bomb" whiskies from Signatory's stocks. Bottled at high strength and intensely flavoured by its maturation in a single first-fill sherry butt, this is far removed from the delicate, laid-back style of The Glenlivet's own bottlings.
The nose is led by cinder toffee and caramel sauce, with a core of spiced raisins and stewed prunes. On the palate there are intense burnt toffee flavours with vanilla bean, cherry jam and sultanas. Shortbread and baked apples with cinnamon butter on the finish.
The whisky is bottled at 65.3% ABV, with 625 70cl bottles available priced at £99.95. It is available here.
Longmorn 2002 17 Years Old Cask #800638
This Speyside favourite is best known for its balanced, fruity spirit matured in a mix of Bourbon and sherry casks. This bottling chops back the sherry to show more fruitiness, but also a darker side to the spirit's character.
The nose has poached pears, leather and perfumed apricot, with a back note of coffee pastilles. Toffee leads the palate with cappucino sweetness following, along with stone fruit, a touch of mint and a building creaminess. In the finish, a fruity burst fades to sweet black coffee.
The whisky is bottled at 56.2% ABV, with 229 70cl bottles available priced at £135. It is available here.
8 September 2020 - Bethany Whymark