Auchroisk 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%

Two hogsheads filled on the same day in 2008, bottled on the same day in 2021. Signatory prints both cask numbers on the label, and that is the whole difference between a named parcel and an anonymous batch.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 2008/2021 Signatory 12 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for twelve years in two hogsheads and bottled at 43%. It belongs to Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection and is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Two hogsheads give a slightly larger parcel than a single cask, but it is still a manageable quantity, and cask numbers 813968 and 813969 are printed on the label. Signatory has used that approach since 1988.

Auchroisk sits in Speyside and was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks to supply malt for the J&B blend. The style is bright, citrus-driven and lightly spiced, a Speyside that sits closer to fruit than to sherry.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright and fresh. Vanilla, apple and a clear citrus note first, then honey and a lightly cereal pastry tone from the young spirit.

Palate

Soft and fruity. Vanilla and pear open, then citrus, a lightly peppered note and a dry oak tone arrive. At 43% there is good body, and the absence of chill filtration shows in the mouthfeel.

Finish

Medium and clean. Citrus, honey and a lightly spiced oak close.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 2008/2021 Signatory 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Two hogsheads, cask nos. 813968 and 813969
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Signatory The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944110858

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Citrus · Vanilla · Honeyed · Fresh · Lightly Spiced

Did You Know?

Signatory was founded in 1988 by brothers Andrew and Brian Symington, who started from a single office in Edinburgh. In 2002 they bought the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry, and today both bottling and warehousing sit there together. The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the house’s largest range and runs to hundreds of releases.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 2008/2021 Signatory 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

What is the Un-Chillfiltered Collection?

Signatory’s ongoing range of whisky bottled without chill filtration, typically at 43 or 46%. Cask numbers and bottling year appear on every label, so you can see exactly what is in the glass.

Why two casks?

Because a single hogshead would have given around 250 bottles. Combining two casks from the same day and the same distillery gives a slightly larger parcel with a more robust profile, without turning it into an anonymous batch.

What does non-chill filtered mean?

That the whisky has not been chilled and filtered to remove fatty acids. Filtration also removes flavour and mouthfeel, and Signatory therefore skips it. The whisky may turn slightly hazy with ice.

What characterises Auchroisk?

A bright, citrus-driven and lightly spiced Speyside style. The distillery was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and official bottlings are rare. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

Is twelve years a good age?

It is a classic balance. There is enough time for the cask to have laid on vanilla and oak, but not so much that the spirit’s own fruit disappears. In a refill hogshead, twelve years is well judged.

Does it need water?

At 43% it is fine neat. If you want to open the citrus note, a few drops of water can help, but the whisky does not require it.