Signatory Live Tasting Event, September 17-19, 2010

[Ganga]

Welcome to the Signatory Whisky Live Tasting


The Whiskies:

Any of the various bottlings produced by Signatory.


Start Time

Start time - 7:00pm PDT Friday September 17th and running through the Sunday.

About...
For those of you who do not know what these are about, they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum. Have a look in the Live Tasting Forum for past events.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have. Tasting notes can be added using the Tasting Note tab on the postings page. (Note, the Age field on the tasting must be a number such as 7,9,10,18)

[S_tan_De_mon]

Good evening!

S'tan checking in for the tasting.... Unbelievable! I have no Sig's open at this time.... Oh, wait! I might have a couple of samples... brb...

Found some unchillfiltered Sigs, three 50 ml mini's to be precise...

Slainte!

[S_tan_De_mon]

Tuning up for the tasting with a wee dram of Finlaggan NAS, L 31.07.08. Very Caol Ila-ish. Quite tasty...

[mikeymad]

Hey S'tan,

I am cooking up dinner right now... but will be sampling in a little bit...

I have a pile of open Sigs have to put them in order...

Mikey

[S_tan_De_mon]

Good evening, Mikey. Sounds like you're thirsty tonight...

[Ganga]

Ganga checking in. Little after 7 now. I've got six to take out for a spin.

[S_tan_De_mon]

Good evening, Ganga. I know that you're thirsty tonight....

[pkt77242]

I am here as well. Going to put the little man down for the night and then I will be back. I believe I have 4 to taste.

[Ganga]

Where to start, where to start? I guess the undeclared ones. Sig Highland 7 and 8 and Mull 7.

[S_tan_De_mon]

I have the Sig Campbeltown 8 yr here. Forgot that I had it... Will pour after I finish off this Finlaggan...

[pkt77242]

Just having a warmup dram. My lineup is Port Ellen 1979 23yo 43%, Brora 1981 21yo 46%, Rosebank 1990 15yo CS, Ben Nevis 1992 16yo CS.

[mikeymad]

hey ganga and pkt... Just about ready...

[Ganga]

Sean, looks like a great lineup. We're going to cover some distilleries tonight. S'tan, do you still have any of the Glen Ord?

[S_tan_De_mon]

Ganga.... alas, it is gone...

[Ganga]

Hmm, I guess the form for tasting notes has been disconnected. Oh well, back to the standard means of posting then.

Highland 8, 40%

Glass: brandy
Color: medium straw
Nose: straw with a dusting of grist, higher up in the glass it becomes more like a glazed bread, tangerines, green strawberries
Palate: oranges on the dry side, bitter, oaky, light touch of spices
Finish: moderately short with an oaky astringency

[pkt77242]

Hmm, I guess the form for tasting notes has been disconnected. Oh well, back to the standard means of posting then.

Glass: brandy
Color: medium straw
Nose: straw with a dusting of grist, higher up in the glass it becomes more like a glazed bread, tangerines, green strawberries
Palate: oranges on the dry side, bitter, oaky, light touch of spices
Finish: moderately short with an oaky astringency

Ganga, I think you forgot to put what whisky you are tasting

[S_tan_De_mon]

The Campbeltown 8 is a very nice Glen Scotia with a bit more oiliness and body than the OB equivalent. Same sea air type profile with the subtle saltiness coming across.

[Ganga]

Are you sure? Maybe I just want to keep 'em guessing.

I do have to say that the Highland 8 has mellowed. This one used to be aggresively astringent and bitter.

[mikeymad]

Are you sure? Maybe I just want to keep 'em guessing.

mystery dramming...

[S_tan_De_mon]

For contrast, I'm pouring the Whitfield's Campbeltown Malt .......

[pkt77242]

Signatory Vintage Port Ellen 43% 11/16/1979-10/3/2003 Refill sherry butt 6775 bottle 339 of 423.

N: Wax, peat, wood smoke, some salt and a little tangerine.
P: Big notes of wax and smoke. salty orange and tangerine as well as a little cashew and almond.
F: medium short finish on wax, cashews and salt. Just a hint of orange in the background. slightly dusty.

A very nice and easy PE. Maybe not the most complex but certainly enjoyable.

[S_tan_De_mon]

This seems to be a vatting of Springer and Glen Scotia...

[S_tan_De_mon]

Excellent descriptive notes, Sean...

[Ganga]

Highland 7 40%

Glass: brandy
Color:antique gold
Nose: lemon cake, oak shavings, cinnamon powder
Palate: lemons, waxy, basil, dried oranges
Finish: short, dried oranges

[Ganga]

This seems to be a vatting of Springer and Glen Scotia...

What's the identifying factor S'tan?

And yes, very interesting notes Sean.

[pkt77242]

Excellent descriptive notes, Sean...

Thanks S'tan

[S_tan_De_mon]

The sea air notes that I pick up in the Glen Scotia overlaying the smokey, spicy notes that I find which are noteworthy in the brown label 15 yr old Springer...

[mikeymad]

First up is an older one:

Tamnavulin 24yo 1978 ( 55.1%, Signatory, 11.3.78-1.31.03 cask 8066 119/252,)

0924091835a.jpg

[S_tan_De_mon]

Nice one, Mikey. Tamnavulin really tends to come into its own when it reaches that age range. Haven't had the opportunity to try it....

[Ganga]

For those interested, we have a chat going on simultaneously at SOI.

[S_tan_De_mon]

Good evening, Whitevector...

[pkt77242]

Signatory UCF Brora 21yo 46% 12/15/1981-7/30/2003 Refill Sherry Butt 1586 bottle 34 of 749

N: Huge notes of mint, some peat, salt and lemon. Is there such a think as smokey mint? Notes of chocolate in there as well, maybe an andes mint with smoke.
P: Mint, smoke, peat, chocolate and some lemon. Maybe a hint of lime and citrus. tickles your tongue like it is carbonated or a sparkling wine.
F: Medium long on mint chocolate and peat smoke. Some lemon (and other citrus fruits) and salt manage to fight their way in as well towards the end.

By far the mintiest whisky I have ever tasted but damn good.

[S_tan_De_mon]

Here but for a moment and then gone....

[Ganga]

Mull 7, 40% (Tobermory/Ledaig)

Glass: brandy
Color: orangy gold
Nose: bitter cocoa and mint chocolate, grist, dried mushrooms (shitake?), underripe Valencia oranges
Palate: sour, musty grain, slight mint characteristic, sea air, lemonade
Finish: moderately long with a lingering offshore breeze

[pkt77242]

Signatory CS Rosebank 15yo 56.6% 6/22/1990-2/20/2006 Hogshead 1509 bottle 169 of 285

N: Lemon yogurt, vanilla, creme brulee and a touch of oak. Maybe a little lemon rind as well.
P: Lemon yogurt and vanilla. Some pencil shavings, and a touch of marshmellow. Towards the end of the palate the oak shows even bigger. Nutmeg, cinnamon and varnish.
F: Long finish on vanilla, lemon, nutmeg, cinnamon and varnish. Getting a little spicy.

A very nice Rosebank.