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Monday, August 17, 2020

Glenturret 29 year old 1989 Signatory, cask 235

Last Friday, I wrote about the 900000 series of 2005 Ledaig sherry casks of which Signatory held a significant portion. Signatory has also released eleven 1989 Glenturrets all aged in hogsheads numbered between 220 and 238, and all with very low ABVs between 42.4 and 46.5.

I have not enjoyed official Glenturrets and I'm very skeptical of cask strength whiskies whose ABVs have dropped so low, so today's whisky would seem like an odd choice for my tastes. But I have tried cask 233 from this series and I really enjoyed it. That one was bottled for Vine & Table in Indiana, this one was bottled for Whisky Club Luxembourg. Neighbors.

Distillery: Glenturret
Owner: Lalique Group
Region: Southern Highlands
Exclusive to: Vinothek Massen, Whisky Club Luxembourg and Whiskyexclusive
Age: 29 years (21 April 1989 - 14 March 2019)
Maturation: Hogshead
Cask number235
Outturn: 262 bottles
Alcohol by Volume: 44.9%
Chillfiltered? No
Colorant added? No
(from a bottle split)

NOTES
The glorious nose is full of watermelon, kiwi, papaya, cucumber and fennel. Then some farm notes and cherry candy. A spring breeze across a meadow of wildflowers. There's a good balance of sweet and tart fruits on the palate, like limes, mango and kiwi. Then brown sugar and sour beer, as well. It gains minerals and a funky dunnage note after 30 minutes in the glass. It finishes with a light sweetness and gentle floral notes. Hints of limes, pineapples and bitter herbs.

WORDS WORDS WORDS
Upon first sniffs, I had though there was a 92+ point whisky in my glass. Rarely would I describe a whisky's nose as beautiful, but that word fits here. The palate and finish were very pleasant, but also shallow and simple. One can't ask for this to have been bottled at a higher ABV at this same age because the whisky isn't watered down. Nor is it over-oaked. It is what it is after almost three full decades in a hogshead. Time steals many things, including a half dozen points from this whisky.

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - I think it was less than €200
Rating - 87