Glen Garioch 2011/2023 Signatory Small Batch 12 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky 48,2%

Signatory is based at Edradour in Perthshire, and the Small Batch range is where they marry a handful of casks from the same distillery rather than chase the one perfect barrel. Number 14 in the series came from Glen Garioch.

The expert's description

Glen Garioch 2011/2023 Signatory Small Batch Edition #14 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 48.2%.

The batch was distilled in 2011 and spent 12 years in 1st fill bourbon barrels. The 48.2% is not cask strength but the strength Signatory chose to gather the batch at, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. The point of a small batch is to gain the breadth of several casks without losing the distillery voice.

Signatory Vintage has been bottling single malt since 1988 and bought Edradour distillery in 2002, where the warehouses sit today. Andrew Symington built the company on one simple principle: buy the casks early, leave them alone for a long time, and do as little as possible to them before bottling.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh orange peel and honey, with dried barley behind. There is a confectionery streak to it — coconut macaroon and soft vanilla, clearer once the glass has stood a while.

Palate

Creamy and round. Toffee, vanilla custard and butterscotch, with baked orchard fruit and toasted almonds. The spice is restrained and arrives only at the end.

Finish

Medium to long. Vanilla and caramel first, then a warming wave of spice and a dry American oak close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Garioch 2011/2023 Signatory Small Batch 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Whisky 48.2%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 48.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Edition: Small Batch Edition #14

Flavour profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Creamy · Soft · Spiced

Did you know?

Signatory is one of very few independent bottlers that owns a distillery of its own. Edradour was for years Scotland's smallest, and the warehouses there now hold Signatory's whole portfolio of casks bought in from other houses.

See our full range of Glen Garioch
See our full range of Signatory Vintage

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Glen Garioch 2011/2023 Signatory Small Batch 12 Year Old

What is the difference between Signatory's Small Batch and a single cask?

A single cask comes from one barrel and therefore also shows that barrel’s quirks. A small batch marries a handful of casks from the same distillery, so the result is more balanced and a touch broader, yet still a long way from a large blend.

Is 48.2% cask strength?

No. Cask strength would be the strength the whisky had straight from the barrel. Signatory deliberately gathered this batch at 48.2%, high enough to hold texture and aroma and low enough to drink neat.

How does Glen Garioch taste from bourbon casks?

Bright and cereal-led, with orange, honey and vanilla. Glen Garioch carries a dryness in the spirit that 1st fill bourbon barrels round off without drowning. It is a different direction from the sherry-matured releases the distillery puts out itself.

Is it peated?

No. Glen Garioch used peated malt until the early 1990s, but spirit from 2011 is unpeated. The spice in the finish comes from cask and strength, not from peat.

Who is Andrew Symington?

He founded Signatory Vintage in Edinburgh in 1988 and grew it into one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. In 2002 he bought Edradour distillery, which today houses both production and the warehouses.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped nosing glass. It gathers the aromas so the orange and vanilla come through clearly, where a wide tumbler lets them escape. Browse our Scotch Whisky selection for other releases from the same bottler.

Does it work with food?

It handles sweet and nutty company well — apple tart, almond cake or a mature cheddar. The vanilla and toffee meet the dessert while the cereal dryness keeps it from turning cloying.