Gamma Edradour 2009/2020 Signatory 10 year Single Highland Malt Whisky 56%

Gamma Edradour 2009/2020 is bottled at full cask strength at 56% vol. It is produced at one of Scotland's smallest distilleries, Edradour Distillery in the Highland area. Curiously, the distillery is owned by independent bottler Signatory Vintage, who also bottled this release. This bottling has been aged for 10 years in a first-fill ex-sherry cask number #376.

You immediately notice the almost black color when you look at the contents of the bottle. It's an impressive sight considering that no artificial coloring has been added to the whisky. The color raises expectations for a sherry bomb of a format. The scent of raisins and dates is the first thing that comes out of the glass. Both are repeated in both the taste and aftertaste. This is quickly followed by fine nuances of chocolate and coffee, which throughout the entire experience lay like a fine layer in the background. You think of pipe tobacco with notes like these in your whisky. You taste both pepper and cinnamon on the tongue. Together with the alcohol, this gives the dram a good, strong kick. You can add a few drops of water to tone down this kick of spices and alcohol. The flavors linger in the mouth for a long time. Slowly, the experience fades and you are left with a good warmth in the mouth and throat, with a distant memory of dried fruits and sweet tobacco.

Phi Caol Ila 2010/2020 Signatory 9 year Single Islay Malt Whisky 59.1% Phi 2010/2020 Signatory 9 year Single

Like Gamma, Phi Caol Ila 2010/2020 is bottled at full cask strength. It is produced at Caol Ila Distillery on the Scottish island of Islay, which is known for heavily smoked whiskies. The whisky has been aged for more than 9 years in hogshead cask number #322497. This release is also bottled by Signatory Vintage for whisky.dk.

The whisky appears with a light yellowish color, approaching the color of hay. As soon as the whisky is poured into the glass, there is a distinct smell of smoke. It's a light and almost pure scent of smoke, like that found in a fire with completely dry wood. This clean, light smoke is repeated in both the taste and the finish. This is quickly followed by a distinct sweetness from ripe fruits, with pears and peaches combining in a delicious scent. These are also clearly present in both the taste and aftertaste. In the background, a hint of a mineral note is felt. This expression of lime and salt, which can only be sensed in the aroma, becomes much clearer throughout the taste experience, culminating in an almost salty taste on the lips in the finish. There is a strong spiciness on the tongue that gives a tingling sensation. This is enhanced by the high alcohol content in this cask strength bottling. A little water tones this down, while promoting oak and vanilla in the expression.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that we have two great whiskies here. Both bottlings come in full cask strength, without artificial coloring and are made without the use of chill filtration. As a whisky geek, these are three things that really add to the impression before the bottle has even been opened. Once opened, the whiskies certainly don't disappoint either. Gamma is a top-shelf sherry bomb with all the classic notes of dried fruit and tobacco. Similarly, Phi offers classic Islay smoke and minerality, while sweetness and strong spices make an appearance. As mentioned in the introduction, there is a big difference between independent bottlings, where you can be unlucky with your purchases. These two releases hit the spot and are really interesting and good acquaintances of high quality. Having gone through all four whiskies in the Alpha and Omega series, I hope we will see more bottlings from other Scottish destilleries. If the same high level of quality is maintained, more letters may be added so that we eventually have the entire Greek alphabet represented.

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