Inchgower 1997 Aged 23 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Signatory Vintage (700ml)

Inchgower 1997 Aged 23 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Signatory Vintage (700ml)
Volume: 700ml           ABV: 59.5%           Age: 22 Years            Country: Scotland
Cask Number(s): 3 Date of Distilling: 24/04/1997 Date of Bottling: 31/08/2020 Matured In: ex Bourbon Hogsheads then Fresh Sherry Butt Finish for 34 months Un-Chillfiltered
Signatory Vintage are an independent bottler founded in 1988 by Andrew and Brian Symington. The name ‘Signatory’ was derived from the initial intention to find a person of suitable standing to sign the labels for bottles drawn from a single cask. The first cask bottled was a 1968 Glenlivet which quickly sold through long before any suitable signee could be found. Signatory currently bottle at three strengths: 43%, 46% Unchillfiltered (UCF) and Cask Strength.To add proof of authenticity to their cask strength bottlings, Signatory always include the cask numbers, date of distillation, date of bottling and number of bottles produced.Signatory Vintage’s aim is to offer as wide a range of whiskies as possible, some of which are not even bottled by the proprietary distillery. This allows malt enthusiast to sample the huge variety of subtle differences which occur between casks.
The Inchgower Distillery was built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson & Company to replace the Tochineal distillery but liquidated in 1903. In 1938 the ownership was transferred to Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd and to this day the Bell’s logo is used in the advertising of Inchgower. Producing around 2,000,000 litres of spirit annually the distillery is now owned and operated by Diageo and is used as major component in Bell’s blended whisky.
This single malt whisky was distilled in 1997 at the Inchgower distillery before being placed in ex Bourbon Hogsheads and left to mature. It was then placed in a fresh ex sherry butt and finished for 34 months. In 2020 it was bottled at 59.5% abv as part of the Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection. Only 690 bottles were produced.
Our Tasting Notes
Nose: Outstanding and very complex, bold oils delivering orchard fruits of apple and raisins, there’s a sharp citrus note and creamy vanilla which is balanced with oak.
Palate: Lots of flavour, oily and rich with apple strudel, ripe peaches, citrus and vanilla, salted caramel and spicy oak.
Finish: Dried apricots, sweet pastry, cinnamon and vanilla with apple and more salted caramel.