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.
See our full range of Glen Ord
See our full range of Signatory Vintage
Listen to our podcast: