A couple of years ago me and my wife bought a very special bottle of whisky, with a very special purpose. Which was not to review it, that’s just a bonus! As I was a bit of a fan of Glenmorangie those days (and still am, though my horizon has broadend since then) I was struck by the Glenmorangie Signet from the very first moment I learned about it from the Three Drinkers (tv-show on Amazon). And thus we decided to purchase a bottle, which my wife would open for me on the night we found out we’d be expecting. Last May that moment came true!
Back then I had a dram, post a cryptic “If you know, you know” post about it on Instagram. And stored the bottle back on the shelve. The second dram, and accompanying blog, would be enjoyed once our child was born. And on January the 29th that moment was there. I became the proud dad of a beautiful baby boy!
So with a cheers to my son – may all his dreams come true – let’s dive straight into the Glenmorangie Signet review!
Tasting Notes: Glenmorangie Signet
Stats:
Age: NAS
ABV: 46% (92 proof)
Distillery: Glenmorangie
Natural Colour: No
Chill-filtered: No
Nose:
Drawing closer to the rim of the glass of this Glenmorangie Signet, is like stepping through the heavy wooden doors of an old school dunnage warehouse. Notes of evaporating malt pair beautifully with luscious red fruit notes from Oloroso sherry finish. Dark vanilla from the white oak and freshly ground coffee grounds from the chocolate malt round off this nose beautifully.
Palate:
The first thought, upon first sip, is pure elegance. Notes of mocha, candied tangerines and nutmeg infused kumquats dance across the palate. Where they, as the dance continues, develop into a song of chocolate, spice, and turkish delight. With just a little hint of mint and a soft but zingy lemon drop bite.
Finish:
A long but gentle finish seems perfectly fitting for a dram as well balanced yet complex as this. And that’s exactly what we’re getting as freshly cut mint leaves, a little bit of liquorice root and a hot cup of ginger tea with honey slowly fade away over time. A beautiful harmony of flavours, ending in decrescendo.
Verdict:
A dram as elegant as this, deserves nothing less than an eloquent description of tasting notes and I hope to have given you just that. Was I perhaps a bit biased going into this dram, considering the occassion for opening this dram? No… Because when I picked this bottle up it was the absolute highlight of my collection, but (pricewise at least) since then many more “top tier” drams have joined the shelves. And I in fact found myself wondering if this dram would disappoint, and if I shouldn’t have selected another for such a special occassion. But I’m more than glad that I stuck to my guns!
This is an absolutely spectacular dram. So full of flavour, so complex… and yet so beautifully softspoken and elegant. This is a beautiful example of how elegance doesn’t have to mean compromise on complexity. It’s been a Joy to review this Glenmorangie Signet. Hats of to Glenmorangie and just for the heck of it, another cheers to my beautiful son! Cheers to everyone!
