A lighthouse cuts through fog and darkness, night after night, year after year. The Observatory is named for Scotland's many coastal lighthouses and celebrates that same patient endurance in its own long maturation.
Expert description
The Observatory 20 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% ABV from the Signature Series, distilled at the Macduff distillery, also known for producing the Single Malt whisky Glen Deveron.
The lighthouse on the box is the series' recurring symbol, referencing the many lighthouses that line Scotland's coastline and have guided sailors safely to harbour for centuries. The series was created by master blender Stephanie Macleod, one of the industry's few female master blenders.
The whisky has matured for 20 years in a combination of used sherry casks and Virgin Oak, a pairing that gives this grain whisky an unusual depth and complexity more often associated with single malt than single grain.
The result is an unusually soft mouthfeel with pronounced sherry sweetness, vanilla and dark chocolate, setting it apart from the lighter, more neutral style many associate with grain whisky.
Tasting notes
Nose
Sweet sherry and toasted vanilla meet fresh summer berries and a touch of citrus.
Palate
Mouth-filling and soft, with ripe grapes, vanilla and cane sugar sweetness.
Finish
Warm and dry, with a lightly spiced close.
Specifications
Name: The Observatory
Distillery: Macduff
Series: Signature Series
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry and Virgin Oak
EAN: 7640171033228
Flavour profile
Sherry-sweet · Vanilla · Soft
Investment potential
A 20-year-old Single Grain from a named source distillery is relatively rare on the market, since most grain whiskies are bottled far younger, giving The Observatory an interesting position for collectors with an interest in the grain category.
Did you know?
Single Grain whisky differs from Single Malt in that it is distilled from grains other than exclusively malted barley, often wheat or corn, typically on a continuous column still rather than traditional pot stills, giving a lighter, more neutral base character that here has been transformed by 20 years of cask maturation.
