Glenmorangie Signet Review
Chocolate and coffee – whoever created this pairing really understood whisky’s allure. It evokes images of premium, indulgent drinks and desserts all rolled into one experience. Just don’t go in expecting an exact chocolate-coffee flavor bomb – you might set yourself up for disappointment. Remember, at its heart, whisky is still whisky. But even if those chocolate and coffee notes aren’t front and center, this is a thoroughly satisfying dram. It’s the perfect pour for those moments when you want to reward yourself on a good day.
Glenmorangie Signet
There are certain whiskeys you must buy when you spot them at duty-free shops. While whiskey prices vary dramatically by country and region, Glenmorangie Signet is worth picking up whenever you find it at even a slightly discounted price.
The Signet stands out even among Glenmorangie’s premium lineup, coming in a stately wooden case that reflects its prestige. When you first purchase it, you’ll be surprised by the weight – amusingly, the case weighs more than the whisky itself. Talk about the packaging stealing the show! Even as someone who doesn’t usually care much about whisky packaging, I could tell how much attention Glenmorangie paid to this product. It’s perfectly designed as a gift.
What makes Signet unique is its production process. While it shares basic whisky characteristics, its creation is different. Glenmorangie Signet uses roasted malted barley – think coffee roasting, but with barley. While other distilleries might have adopted this method recently, it was quite innovative when Signet first appeared.
The aging process is equally interesting. It first matures in bourbon oak barrels for about 8 years, then spends roughly 2 years in Oloroso sherry casks. That’s quite a journey through different barrels! During this process, it absorbs distinct characteristics: vanilla and oak notes from the bourbon barrels, dried fruit and nutty flavors from the Oloroso sherry casks. Finally, it’s non-chill filtered, preserving the whisky’s deep, rich flavors instead of removing them through cold filtration like most whiskies.
Thanks to this unique process, Signet boasts mocha and dark chocolate notes. The combination of roasted malt and different barrel influences creates an intriguing flavor profile – each sip starts smooth, with subtle coffee and dark chocolate notes that gently drift across your palate. These flavors perfectly complement whisky’s premium image and pair beautifully with chocolate or coffee accompaniments.
When poured, it captivates with a deep amber color, attributed to the roasted malt and sherry cask aging. Despite its 46% ABV, it’s surprisingly smooth.
Final Verdict
It’s delicious. The smoothness alone justifies its $200 price tag. While marketing and reviews might oversell the chocolate and coffee notes as overwhelming, they’re actually more subtle. Yes, these notes are present, but they’re more like gentle whispers than bold statements. Still, these unique flavors, rarely found in other whiskies, make it thoroughly satisfying.
It’s remarkably smooth and enjoyable, even without focusing on those signature dark chocolate and coffee notes. While I’d love to keep it as a daily drinker, the price point makes that challenging.
Personally, I think pairing this whisky with dark chocolate, espresso coffee, or dried fruits would enhance the experience even more. That’s definitely on my to-do list.
