Glen Ord 11 year old Signatory 100 Proof Edition #22 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,1%

The number 57.1 is no accident. It is exactly 100 degrees on the old British proof scale, and the whole of Signatory’s 100 Proof range is built around that single figure. Same strength, different distilleries — number 22 in the run came from Glen Ord.

The expert's description

Glen Ord 2012/2023 Signatory 100 Proof Edition #22 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 57.1%.

The spirit went into cask in 2012 and was bottled in 2023 after eleven years. 1st fill bourbon barrels and a strength above 57% make a powerful combination on a spirit of that age — there is plenty of vanilla and wood, but the malty core of Glen Ord is robust enough to carry it. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Signatory has run the 100 Proof range for many years as its most recognisable format. The idea is simple: the same fixed strength every time, so it is the distillery and the cask that change, not the frame. That makes the range one of the more useful tools if you want to compare Scottish distilleries directly.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and freshly cut apple. Behind that sits a malty, cereal tone and a trace of pine that the high strength pushes forward.

Palate

Powerful and sweet. Vanilla, caramel and pear, with a peppery middle and a clear oak note. The malt holds its ground underneath and gives the whisky a dryness that balances the sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm. Vanilla and oak giving way slowly to pepper and a dry, cereal close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Ord 2012 11 Year Old Signatory 100 Proof Edition #22 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57.1%
Distillery: Glen Ord
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2023
Edition: 100 Proof Edition #22
EAN no.: 5021944126590

Flavour profile

Vanilla-sweet · Spiced · Cereal · Powerful · Oaky

Did you know?

The British proof scale was abolished in 1980, but it lives on on whisky labels. 100 degrees British proof equals 57.1% alcohol, and the figure comes from an old test in which spirit was mixed with gunpowder and lit to see whether it would burn.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Ord 2012 Signatory 100 Proof Edition #22

What does 100 proof mean?

It refers to the old British proof scale, on which 100 degrees equals 57.1% alcohol. The scale was abolished in 1980, but the figure is still used as a fixed reference. American proof is a different scale, where 100 proof equals 50%.

Why does Signatory use the same strength across the whole range?

Because it makes comparison possible. When the alcohol level is identical from bottle to bottle, the character of the distillery and the cask is left as the only variable. It is an unusually disciplined way to build a range.

Is eleven years young for this strength?

It is young, but the casks compensate. 1st fill bourbon barrels give a lot from the start, and after eleven years there is plenty of vanilla and wood in the whisky. You get more freshness and less rounding than in an older bottling.

Should I add water?

Yes, give it a try. At 57.1% there is room to work, and water loosens both the vanilla and the apple. Taste it neat first, then add a couple of drops at a time, and stop when the pepper in the middle settles.

What does Glen Ord taste like from 1st fill bourbon barrels?

Sweeter and more vanilla-driven than from used casks, but the malty, dry core is still clear. Glen Ord has a relatively full spirit, and it takes heavy cask influence better than many lighter Highland whiskies would.

Is it peated?

No. Glen Ord uses unpeated malt, and there is no peat in the whisky. The sharp edge comes from the strength and the 1st fill casks. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Which glass suits a whisky at this strength?

A tulip-shaped nosing glass, but keep your nose a little away from the rim to begin with. Above 57% the alcohol can easily drown the aromas if you get too close too fast.