2005 Signatory Vintage Speyside 18 (M) 18 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 57.4%

Another direct import batch of 'secret' Macallan lands at $200 / bottle less than the previous shipment.

Like us, you might have started thinking that independent Macallans were a thing of the past. Hence, we were particularly excited to encounter this little gem - and at a reasonable price to boot! Of course, Macallan isn't stated on the label, however whiskyfun.com have reviewed bottlings from Signatory's same "M" series and the tasting compass points firmly towards Edrington's darling. First-fill oloroso matured and with the colour to show it, a fraction of the 665 bottles produced have just landed. Distilled 2005 and decanted in early 2024 at 57.4% Alc./Vol. with zero chill filtration. Collectable.

Notes on a sister cask... "I confess, the reason I drink whisky is called Macallan. But I haven't bought a Macallan for years and have found only a few of the new bottlings that convinced me or, in my opinion, came close to the old bottlings.... this whisky immediately took me back in time. A Macallan from the old days!!!...The nose continues on the palate without any compromises. The alcohol is well integrated, but with a little water the dark fruits come out much better. The sherry doesn't seem slapped on at all, as is often the case in modern bottlings of recent years. They are sometimes tasty, but not always distinguishable from normal sherry. Not to mention that the character of the distillery is usually no longer recognizable. Super creamy in the mouth and full of flavor...I don't even want to swallow." - whiskybase.com

...This strange cask number surely to deceive the enemy. This little 'M' next to 'Speyside' could suggest this is Mortlach, or Mannochmore, or Macduff, or Miltonduff, or Macallan indeed. We think we know, but we'll remain silent as an old mouse from South-West Craigellachie. Colour: bright rich Baltic amber (right). Nose: many similarities with the 1978, especially all these dried fruits and this chocolaty meatiness that should be stemming from the oloroso. Drop of Maggi, Bovril, some pipe tobacco, beef jerky, gravy… With water: toasted bread all over the place, burnt pinewood too, old-style embrocations and liqueurs, marmalade, genever, roasted pine nuts, garden peat (no smoke), compost… I say only high-class distilleries can do the splits rather gracefully like this.  Mouth (neat): very, very potent, almost extreme. Huge spices, dried fruits, Stolle, fruitcake, old dried figs… With water: and voilà, civilisation. And coffee, triple-sec, pepper liqueur, more genever, cocoa, pipe tobacco, salty bouillon, and perhaps asparagus soup. That's my favourite soup, mind you. Finish: long, spicier, with pepper and cloves, plus the usual marmalade-y signature. Bits of dark tobacco too. Comments: it's still a tad rustic, as it's still a little young, but it's very classy. Anyone owning a bottle may experiment with a pipette and try to find the ideal drinking strength. Not the easiest task. 89 points - whiskyfun.com