Review by: The Muskox

The back label says that this malt was “carefully crafted” from 104 malts! That’s the most malts I’ve ever seen disclosed as ingredients in a single whisky, being conspicuously slightly higher than Chivas’ Century of Malts.

Which 104, you ask? Well, they’re handily listed on the back of the bottle.

“Aberlour, Ardbeg, Ardmore, Balvenie, Ben Nevis, Blair Athol, Bruichladdich, Banff, Brora, Balblair, Balmenach, Benriach, Benromach, Benrinnes, Bladnoch, Brackla, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Caperdonich, Clynelish, Coleburn, Convalmore, Cragganmore, Craigellachie, Dalmore, Dallas Dhu, Deanston, Dunglass, Dufftown, Edradour, Fettercairn, Glen Albyn, Glendronach, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, Glen Garioch, Glenglassaugh, Glen Grant, Glen Keith, Glenkinchie, Glenlochy, Glen Mhor, Glen Moray, Glenrothes, Glen Scotia, Glenturret, Glenugie, Glenury, Highland Park, Imperial, Inchgower, Jura, Killyloch, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Linkwood, Littlemill, Linlithgow, Lochside, Longmorn, Longrow, Macallan, Millburn, Miltonduff, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Oban, Pittyvaich, Pulteney, Port Ellen, Rosebank, Scapa, Springbank, Strathisla, Talisker, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Teaninich, Tobermory, Tomatin, Tomintoul, and Tullibardine.”

Wait a minute, I count 84 whiskies! And Ledaig, Longrow, and Dunglass are just peated versions of Tobermory, Springbank, and Littlemill, respectively, so it’s only 81 distilleries! I guess it says “104 different single malt scotch whiskies”, not 104 different distilleries… still, what gives??

Okay, wait a minute. Someone on Whiskybase is a genius and has made the connection between this whisky and a bottling called “Signatory Supreme” released in 1997. It also advertises 104 different whiskies and a sherry butt finish. 1997 was 26 years before 2024… Is this whisky just the Signatory Supreme, aged an extra 26 years? If that’s the case, not only does the 1997 bottling include the complete list of the 104 whiskies, but also the vintages of each component! Long story short, if we assume an equal volume of all components in the blend, the average age of this whisky is 49 years! The oldest component is 1959 Glenfarclas. The only problem with this theory is that, because the youngest component listed in the 1997 bottling is 1990 Lagavulin, it doesn’t explain why this 2024 bottling is only a 31-year-old and not a 34-year-old.

Alright, enough about that. Let’s drink the stuff.

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Distillery: See above.

Bottler: Signatory Vintage.

Region/Style: Blended malt scotch whisky.

ABV: 43.5%. Cask strength.

Age: 31 years. Or 34? See above again.

Cask type: Married for the last 26 years in a sherry butt.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: 1.0, Deep copper. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Slightly thin, but unmistakably old. Varnished oak, but with a sweetness that’s almost bourbon-like. Fruit notes of orange marmalade, cooked apples, Amarena cherries, and golden raisins. Caramel and buttered brioche.

Palate: Medium-light texture, mouthwatering and juicy. Arrives with rich dried apples and a hint of fragrant peat smoke, then develops dark and herbal. Complex. Nutty, malty, caramel, spice. 19th century Coca Cola. Slate, dunnage warehouse.

Finish: Medium, deep and complex. Sweet herbs, very mineral, beeswax, old wool sweaters, old books. Robust oak but not overwhelmingly tannic.

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Conclusion: Don’t take my “bourbon-like” comment on the nose too literally – this is unmistakably an old-school malt, as the name would suggests. It drips with age and class, it’s light but very complex. Moreish, too, I wish I had a whole bottle to sip slowly. Stupid tiny sample.

Whiskybase is all over this one. I’m not sure just quite how much I like it, but it’s definitely better than that Cadenhead’s Creations 36, for a start.

Final Score: 88.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.