Glen Ord 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%

Glen Ord is one of those distilleries most European whisky drinkers never meet officially. The official single malt is called Singleton and sells mainly in Asia. To taste the spirit closer to home, the route runs through the independent bottlers.

The expert's description

Glen Ord 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from two hogsheads, bottled at 46%.

The casks were filled on 7 October 2008 and emptied on 6 January 2022 — hogsheads number 318687 and 318690, married into one bottling, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The 46% is Signatory’s standard choice for its unfiltered bottlings, and on a thirteen year old spirit from used hogsheads it is a sensible strength: enough to hold the texture, not enough to drown it.

Glen Ord sits at Muir of Ord on the Black Isle north-west of Inverness and has been distilling since 1838, on land that belonged to the MacKenzies of Ord. The spirit is relatively full and malty for a Highland whisky, and hogsheads with no sherry involvement let precisely that cereal core stand forward.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and cornfield first, then pear and a trace of heather honey. There is a dry, almost floury note that is typical of Glen Ord from used casks.

Palate

Firm and malty. Barley, apple and pale caramel, with a dryness mid-palate and a hint of toast. Not sweet, more cereal-led and tighter than most Speyside whiskies of the same age.

Finish

Medium. Malt, a dry oak note and a final touch of white pepper.

Specifications

Name: Glen Ord 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glen Ord
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 318687 and 318690
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 7 October 2008
Bottled: 6 January 2022
EAN no.: 5021944116249

Flavour profile

Malty · Dry · Fruity · Cereal

Did you know?

Glen Ord has its own maltings on site, and they are large — around 36,000 tonnes of malt a year. A big share of that output does not go to the distillery itself but to other distilleries in the same group, so Glen Ord supplies the raw material for whisky far beyond its own.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Ord 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old

Why do you rarely see Glen Ord as an official single malt in Europe?

Because the owners market the spirit under the name Singleton of Glen Ord, and that range is aimed at Asian markets such as Taiwan and Singapore along with travel retail. In Europe the independent bottlers are therefore the most reliable source of Glen Ord under its own name.

What does Glen Ord taste like?

Malty and relatively full for a Highland whisky, with a dry, cereal core. There is apple and pear, but not the floral sweetness you meet in many Speyside spirits. From used hogsheads with no sherry, that character stands out most clearly.

What is the difference between a hogshead and a bourbon barrel?

A bourbon barrel holds around 200 litres, while a hogshead sits at roughly 250. Hogsheads are typically rebuilt from bourbon barrels by assembling the staves into a larger vessel, and the greater volume means a slightly slower exchange between whisky and wood.

Is it peated?

No. Glen Ord works with unpeated malt, and there are no peat notes in the whisky. The dryness you meet mid-palate comes from grain and cask. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Why are there two cask numbers?

Because two hogsheads were married for the bottling. They were filled on the same day and emptied on the same day, so the contents are closely related, and gathering them makes the outturn large enough for an ordinary release rather than two small single cask bottles.

Is it a good place to start with independent bottlers?

Yes. 46% is on the manageable side, there is no smoke and no heavy sherry, and the whisky shows clearly what unfiltered and uncoloured mean in practice. At the same time the distillery is one you rarely get a chance to meet.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, in a tulip-shaped glass. At 46% water is not necessary, but a few drops can soften the dry cereal note if you prefer. Give it five minutes in the glass first.