Auchroisk 1996/2022 Signatory 25 years old Sherry Cask Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48,5%

The cask was filled in 1996 and touched again in 2022. In between, the whisky world went from forgotten to overheated, and Auchroisk got its own name back. The cask simply lay there waiting.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 1996/2022 Signatory 25 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 25 years in sherry cask no. 2 and bottled at 48.5%. The cask gave 684 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Twenty-five years in a sherry cask is a long time, and the strength of 48.5% tells its own story: a fair amount has evaporated along the way, and what remains is concentrated. Signatory bottles at cask strength without adjustment, so the figure on the label is what the cask gave.

Auchroisk was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and the distillery’s bright, citrus-driven style takes on an entirely different expression here. The sherry has had a quarter of a century to lay dark fruit and spice over the top.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark and deep. Raisins, fig and orange marmalade first, then walnut, dark chocolate and a dry old oak note. A fine leathery note sits at the bottom.

Palate

Full and concentrated. Dried fruit and sherry sweetness open, then nuts, cinnamon and a dry spiced oak arrive. At 48.5% there is good weight without sharpness, and twenty-five years of maturation shows in the texture, which is thick and oily.

Finish

Long and dry. Dark fruit, nuts and spiced oak that let go slowly and leave a lightly bitter chocolate note.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 1996/2022 Signatory 25 Years Old Sherry Cask no. 2 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48.5%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask no. 2
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1996
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 684
Edition: Signatory Cask Strength Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Dark Fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Full-bodied · Leather

Investment Potential

{'en': None}

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by brothers Andrew and Brian Symington in Edinburgh and later moved to Pitlochry, where they bought the Edradour distillery in 2002. The house is known for bottling without chill filtration and without colouring, and for printing cask number and bottle count on the label, so you can see exactly how little exists.

See our full range of Auchroisk
See our full range of Signatory

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 1996/2022 Signatory 25 Years Old Sherry Cask no. 2 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48.5%

Why only 684 bottles?

Because the whisky comes from one single sherry cask. After twenty-five years a large share has evaporated through the wood, and what remains stretches to 684 bottles. No more will be made.

What does non-chill filtered mean?

That the whisky has not been chilled and filtered to remove the fatty acids that can make it cloudy with water. Filtration also removes flavour compounds, so Signatory skips it. The whisky may therefore turn slightly hazy with ice.

Is it worth the money?

Twenty-five years in a single sherry cask from a distillery that almost exclusively supplies blends is rare. Whether it suits you depends on whether you are after a deep, sherry-driven malt with real age behind it, and the flavour should ideally match what you are looking for.

Why is the strength 48.5% and not higher?

Because alcohol evaporates faster than water in a Scottish warehouse. The cask was filled at around 63%, and twenty-five years later it has fallen to 48.5% by itself. Signatory does not adjust.

What characterises Auchroisk?

A bright, citrus-driven Speyside style from a distillery built in 1974 for the J&B blend. At this age and in a sherry cask, however, the original lightness is covered by dark fruit. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

How should it be served?

Neat in a glass with a narrow opening, and give it ten minutes. At 48.5% it does not need water, but a few drops can open the fruit if the oak stands too dry.