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Glenmorangie Signet
Black Bottle
A Signet in this case refers to a “seal” or stamp that was used to authenticate
a document. Glenmorangie’s signet is taken from an old Pictish carved stone
found near Tain where the Glenmorangie distillery is. Not a cygnet which is a
baby swan as I heard some whisky buff telling his mate and saying that it was
so named because it is such a graceful whisky!
This relatively new release with no age statement from Glenmorangie has
a very different fl avour profi le to any other Glenmorangie whisky. It’s creator,
Dr Bill Lumsden, told me that he set out to produce a decidedly different
whisky. Most whisky is aged in casks that have previously contained either
other whisky or wines of different types. For the creation of Signet some
“made to order” new wood casks were used and these obviously have some
character that gives the decided chocolate aromas and fl avour.
The nose abounds with chocolate, raisins and cocao with heavy toasted
malt very much in the picture. Sweet and almost syrupy in the mouth with
some decided Oloroso fl avours while a huge wave of chocolate sweeps across
the palate leaving cinnamon, orange peel and some tropical tones in it’s wake.
Dries out beautifully in the long, sustained fi nish. A seriously beautiful whisky
made for sipping and appreciating its very distinct and superb qualities.
The golden colour proves that a whisky does not have to be deeply
coloured to have big character. The nose defi nitely shows that its
heritage is Islay with the penetrating, yet gently peat with smoky twist
from start to fi nish. Obviously mature with loads of mature notes while
still having an attractive fruity freshness . Full of honey in the mouth
with more peat becoming evident as the fl avours emerge with passage
along the tongue. A gorgeous buzz continues right through the slight
sweet notes of brown sugar and toffee. A clever amalgum of youth and
age gives all the life and vitality of some youthful grain while the mature
malts bring spice and helps underline the smokiness. Long and warming
and very satisfying. Highly versatile and can be drunk on its own yet fi ne
partner to wide range of foods.
November 2012 WHISKY EDITION
51