16 January 2025.
A bit of History :
Signatory Vintage is a very well-known independent bottler. It was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and his brother Brian. A the beginning they wanted to get a signature of a celebrity on each bottle, hence the name Signatory Vintage. Success came quickly, thanks in particular to the company's principles: no colouring agents, no cold filtration, which was not necessarily uncommon among independent bottlers, but they didn't communicate much about it, whereas it was a basic principle at Signatory, and it was immediately promoted.
With the Cask Strength Collection, with its highly recognisable design, they added a principle: all their bottlings in this range were necessarily bottled as Cask Strength. Here too, it was a convincing selling point, and success followed.
In 2018, they celebrated the company's 30th anniversary with a series of landmark bottlings, which put them firmly in the ranks of the great bottlers. It was thought at the time that they had reached the top and that they couldn't surprise anyone any more. But that was without counting on the team's boundless creativity.
In January 2024, the 100 Proof range was launched. The idea was to launch bottlings at 100° Proof, i.e. 57.1°, so not quite Cask Strength, but still very powerful, vintage and aged, at a very attractive price. These are not single casks, but blends of several casks, making limited editions of 1,000 or 2,000 bottles most of the time. At first, it didn't cause much of a stir. But when several bottlings followed one another, the public started to take an interest.
Now, a year and a half later, this range has become a must-have in the whisky world. There are several sub-ranges, Exceptional Cask, US 100 Proof, and 100 Proof Single Grain. This variety shows that it is a total success, with low prices attracting the public, and the character of the bottlings convincing.
The Line Up Concept :
In our time, people say there's a shortage of stock. But that's not quite true. The lack of stock concerns the very famous distilleries, but most distilleries have plenty of stock. The proof is in this range, which totals around 70 bottlings in just 18 months. Many distilleries are delighted to get rid of their surplus through this range.
It is also said that prices are rising. But if prices are going up, it's also because the public's demands are increasing. People want Single Cask, and that's expensive and hard to find, because you need good casks and a fairly long maturation period. With the 100 Proof range, there are no single casks, maturation is generally short, and the casks are often refilled, which keeps costs relatively low.
In addition to the fact that we are witnessing a re-democratisation of quality whisky, which is a revolution in the world of whisky, because in recent years we have tended to go in the direction of the elitist, this range allows us to discover or rediscover little-known, ignored distilleries in the shadow of the big names. It's an exploration of Scotland that you can do, and comparing the different distilleries becomes a game.
But precisely, is this increasingly famous range fulfilling its mission? Does it manage to combine a low price with a certain quality? Does it allow people to discover the character of lesser-known distilleries? In short, the success is undeniable, but does it reflect a genuine success, or simply a possible passing fad, more or less limited to curiosity? One of the problems raised by the public is that there are too many Sherry casks being bottled, and that the Sherry is often too overpowering, obscuring the identity of the distillery. Is this true?
That's what we're going to see with this Line Up. I've collected 28 samples from the range, which is almost half. I think it's fair to say it's representative. I tasted them once before, individually, but now I'm tasting them all again together, and yes, it was difficult. But it gave me an overview of the whole range, and helped me to find the answers to all my questions.
Speyside (M) 100 Proof #25 13 yo : Officially, we don't know what it is, but in fact it's a Macallan, and to find a 13-year-old Macallan at this price, you have to get up early! Besides, it sold out a long time ago.
A very fine, purely Macallan nose, full of melting toffee, walnuts and chestnuts coated in cinnamon. The finish is powerful and languorous, but the palate is a little too woody and bitter. Score: 88
Speyside (M) 2011 100 Proof #29 13 yo : It's another Macallan that's barely hiding, the same age, but this time only from 1st Fill Oloroso casks, a real class act. A pure heresy on the current whisky market, much to our delight.
It has much in common with its predecessor, but is much more balanced and varied, more subtle, less bitter, pleasant on the palate, long and deep finish, chocolate, chestnuts, apple crumble. Score: 88
Orkney (HP) 2010 100 Proof #30 14 yo : There are 4 Orkney's in the range, all of them Highland Park of course. They are all the same age, 14 years, but this is the only one to have aged only in 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt casks.
A pure Highland Park nose, with heather, honey, some cereals, iodine, and very light peat, juicy white fruit. Very smooth on the palate, with a pleasant finish that's not too strong. Score: 88
More peat and minerality, but otherwise it's still the same and all the better for it, heather, honey, white fruit, iodine, creosote. Very pleasant palate, fruity and woody, with a much more powerful finish than its predecessor. Score: 88
Glenrothes 2015 100 Proof #6 9 yo : Here's a distillery that's unfairly little known and that has been featured twice in the range. Perhaps this is the opportunity to give it back its rightful place.
Creamy nose, red fruit coulis, elegant and deep oak. Velvety on the palate, dates, beeswax, melted butter, red plums. Long, pleasant finish, liquorice, brown tobacco, cola, dried banana. Score : 87
The nose is woodier, airier and less expressive than the previous one. Cereals and nuts. Round and fruity on the palate, then saturated with spices, leading to a very powerful but not so long finish of wood, tobacco and caramel. Score: 87
Heady nose, nail varnish, red fruits, various cereals, wood crumbs. Spring freshness. Pleasant palate, wood and tobacco, spices, powerful and pleasant finish, liquorice and stuffed figs. Score: 87
Caramel and chocolate on the nose, raisins, liquorice stick. Pleasant, velvety palate, dates and honey, long and powerful finish, tobacco and cola. Milk chocolate. Score : 87
Wood and apple crumble, some red fruit, cinnamon, dates and sultanas. Fruity on the palate, quince and greengage, lively spices, powerful finish, dried figs, milk chocolate. Score : 88
The nose is more red fruit, redcurrants, raspberries. Woody depth, warm caramel, figs. A suave note that provokes complexity, dates and orange jam. On the palate, velvety dates, full-bodied fruit, well-mastered spices, long, powerful finish, tobacco, chocolate. Score : 88
Ben Nevis 2015 100 Proof #5 8 yo : Ben Nevis is undoubtedly the most represented distillery in the range, with no fewer than 5 bottlings. This one is a blend of 1st Fill & 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts.
Mineral and peaty notes, a hint of icing sugar, with red fruits in the background. Fresh iodine. On the palate, red fruit purée, tomato soup. Powerful and racy finish, bark, chocolate. Score: 87
Beautiful country peat, typical of the distillery, full of butter, with a tiny hint of iodine and vanilla. Mineral and salty notes. White fruit and honey on the palate. Long and racy finish with earthy, earthy undertones, limestone. Score: 87
The minerality and honey come together in perfect balance, with fairly light peat, vanilla butter, yellow plum juice and a hint of lemon zest. Interesting palate, fresh, oily. Fine spices. Long and robust finish, tobacco, bark, cola, damp wood, chocolate. Score: 87
Iodised fullness with a peaty base, rare fruit, fine minerality. Drops of lemon. Velvety and citrusy palate, grapefruit and pineapple, full, violent finish, iodine, limestone, cereals. Score: 87
Ardmore 2012 100 Proof #21 12 yo : Slightly younger, but mostly aged in Bourbon casks that have previously passed through Islay, this is not at all the same profile as the previous one, even though it comes from the same distillery.
The nose is more coppery, sustained by lemony peat, white fruit and mineral notes, iodine, limestone. Fresh palate, white fruit and lemon, lovely spices, long finish, blond tobacco, cola, wood. Score : 87
Caol Ila 2015 100 Proof #10 8 yo : A good range isn't a good range without Caol Ila. And so here is the first in the range, aged in a blend of 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and Bourbon Hogsheads.
Pure Caol Ila profile, ashy sherry, dark chocolate, imposing iodine, limestone and quartz. On the palate, milky vanilla, dessert cream. Powerful finish, full of cloves and smoked ham. Thick layer of ash. Score: 87
Peat and icing sugar. Ashy smoke, white fruits. Nice fullness of iodine. On the palate, vanilla pulp, cane sugar. Long, warm finish of wood and charcoal. Score: 87
Right from the nose, it's strongly mineral and chalky. No fruit, just peat, salt, quartz and tide. On the palate, seawater, oysters, shellfish, razor clams and whelks, lively spices. Long and powerful finish, very maritime, coal, cola, foam, earth. Score: 87
On the nose, vegetable freshness, black radish, beetroot, old wood. On the palate, it's citrusy, with lemon and breadcrumbs, a strong spiciness. Long finish, but lacks a little flavour. Score: 88
Very Sherry and very round on the nose, dried fruit, dates, raisins, apricots. Gooseberries. Very smooth on the palate, as if coated in caramel and chocolate, with a long and complex, woody, chocolatey finish. Score : 88
Pleasant spring freshness, dried fruit dipped in caramel, creamy honey. Lemony notes. On the palate, soft caramel, fudge, medlars, long, powerful, very controlled finish, chocolate, coffee. Score : 88
Beautiful fruity fullness, redcurrants, green apples, juicy pears, peaches. The Sherry is discreet. Very velvety on the palate, with soft caramel and dates. Long and powerful finish full of chocolate. Score : 88
Pears and citrus fruits, white gooseberries, country notes, hay, fresh earth. On the palate, a balance of lemon, vanilla, dried fruit and hay. Grapefruit on the finish, young wood, shortbread biscuits. Score: 87
Secret Speyside 2010 100 Proof #16 13 yo : This one is a real secret, no one really knows where it comes from, some say Glenfarclas, but nothing for sure. In any case, it's a blend of 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt and Bourbon Hogshead.
The nose is shy, but not unpleasant, with cereals, nuts and pear. The palate is very well crafted, with citrus, orchard fruits and melted butter. The finish is pleasant, very controlled, with chocolate, tobacco and coffee. Score: 87
Muffled, woody Sherry, dried fruit and red fruit, grapes, apricots, redcurrants. Mushrooms and damp wood. On the palate it's velvety, toffee and baked apple, long, quiet finish, almond paste, bark. Score: 87
Very Sherry on the nose, with varnished wood and red fruit. Beautiful roundness. Very fruity on the palate, with muscat grapes, redcurrants and red fruit. Finish with meaty notes, mushrooms and coffee. Score : 87
Auchroisk 2010 100 Proof #12 13 yo : 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, at the risk of being boring. It's true that they make a lot of them, but with a 13 year old, it's tempting.
Very well developed Sherry, crushed raspberries, redcurrants and red grapes, woody notes. The palate is a little pale, but not bad, hints of strawberry, smoked ham. Finish a little short, chocolate, coffee, bark. Score: 86
A little woody smoke, intense red fruit, redcurrant and raspberry purée. On the palate, very decent, still very Sherry, cherries, blackberries, blueberries. Well-crafted, long finish, red fruit coulis. Score: 87
The quality is variable, and I would even say that sometimes you get the impression that the distillery has seized the opportunity to get rid of superfluous casks. In any case, it's never really bad, the power makes up for the flaws, and it's much more often a success than a failure.
It's true that Sherry is an important selling point. It has its qualities and its faults. Those who like Sherry Bombs will be well served. Others may complain that some bottlings are too Sherry, and that you can't smell anything of the distillate. Both will be right, but it has to be said that the products on offer are very varied, and there's something for everyone. The range can't just be summed up as Sherry, there are lots of other things.
Some of the bottlings are really successful. Sometimes, it's because the distillery is very good, and you can feel it, so I'm thinking of the two Macallans, which are certainly the two best bottlings in the range apart from the Exceptional Casks (and still!), the Ben Nevis and the Orkney, which are really well done. Bunnahabhain #7, Ardmore #4, Linkwood #19 and Glen Ord #22 are also fine. Other times, it's because the maturation has worked well, in this case I'm thinking of the Miltonduff #14, the Glenrothes #6, and all the Exceptional Casks. Unfortunately, the latter are much more expensive.
As far as discovering new distilleries is concerned, yes, there are some interesting opportunities. But it has to be said that, most of the time, the Sherry casks make it impossible to detect the precise character of the distillate. I wonder if this isn't because, quite simply, these lesser-known distilleries have little character. Is it better to coat them in Sherry, or let them flourish? I don't have an answer to that question. But I do note that the very well-known distilleries remain very good whatever the ageing.
My ratings are relatively consistent, although the bottlings are often very different, and leave mixed reviews. That's because, while almost all bottlings have their faults, they also have their qualities. And, with such a high alcohol content, the finish is always quite powerful and long. This gives some bottlings a chance to catch up.
Conclusion :
I would advise anyone interested in this range to find out more beforehand. Read some of the consumer reviews and perhaps taste it if you get the chance. Some of the very Sherry bottlings may not be to your taste. On the other hand, there are also some nuggets, and then you have to hurry to buy one before it sells out.
In any case, I recommend leaving the bottle to rest for a few weeks after opening. Sometimes the casks leave too strong an influence, but once the whisky has had time to breathe, the balance settles. This is true of any bottling, but particularly of these.
On the whole, it's an interesting range, with powerful products at low prices, but you shouldn't limit yourself to that. They don't have the subtlety and length on the palate of a Single Cask, so it doesn't replace them, it's just a new type of product.
Personally, I'm very happy to own certain bottles, but on the other hand, I have my doubts. They're rustic and friendly bottlings, sometimes very seductive, but their power means you can't drink them in every situation. And that's my problem. When I feel like drinking an uncomplicated whisky, without spending hours on it, I prefer it to be lower in alcohol. And when I want to linger over a whisky, to enjoy discovering all its nuances, I prefer a Single Cask.
The 100 Proof range therefore offers some nice surprises at an unbeatable price, and an opportunity to discover some distilleries, but it is also too strong for an entry dram or a daily dram, and not subtle enough to compete with most single casks. It has its qualities, and its limitations.
That's why the price doesn't seem so cheap to me. It's cheap, of course, but the Exceptional Cask sub-range is less advantageous, and you can sometimes find Single Casks at almost the same price. People say they're cheap because they're compared to Single Casks, but that's not the point. Most of them are clearly not as good. It has character and strength, but not subtlety.
The fact remains that, with this range, Signatory has broken down a wall and made certain products more accessible - a small upheaval in the world of whisky.
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