2005 Signatory Vintage Speyside 18 (M) 18 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Like us, you might have started thinking that independent Macallans were a thing of the past. Hence, we were particularly excited to encounter this little gem - and at a reasonable price to boot! Of course, Macallan isn't stated on the label, however whiskyfun.com have reviewed bottlings from Signatory's same "M" series and the tasting compass points firmly towards Edrington's darling. First-fill oloroso matured and with the colour to show it, a handful of the 620 bottles produced have just landed. Distilled 2005 and decanted in 2024 at 57.9% Alc./Vol. with zero chill filtration. Collectable.

Notes on a sister cask... This strange cask number surely to deceive the enemy. This little 'M' next to 'Speyside' could suggest this is Mortlach, or Mannochmore, or Macduff, or Miltonduff, or Macallan indeed. We think we know, but we'll remain silent as an old mouse from South-West Craigellachie. Colour: bright rich Baltic amber (right). Nose: many similarities with the 1978, especially all these dried fruits and this chocolaty meatiness that should be stemming from the oloroso. Drop of Maggi, Bovril, some pipe tobacco, beef jerky, gravy… With water: toasted bread all over the place, burnt pinewood too, old-style embrocations and liqueurs, marmalade, genever, roasted pine nuts, garden peat (no smoke), compost… I say only high-class distilleries can do the splits rather gracefully like this.  Mouth (neat): very, very potent, almost extreme. Huge spices, dried fruits, Stolle, fruitcake, old dried figs… With water: and voilà, civilisation. And coffee, triple-sec, pepper liqueur, more genever, cocoa, pipe tobacco, salty bouillon, and perhaps asparagus soup. That's my favourite soup, mind you. Finish: long, spicier, with pepper and cloves, plus the usual marmalade-y signature. Bits of dark tobacco too. Comments: it's still a tad rustic, as it's still a little young, but it's very classy. Anyone owning a bottle may experiment with a pipette and try to find the ideal drinking strength. Not the easiest task. 89 points - whiskyfun.com