My hubby travels a lot. He goes all over the world, but quite frequently into Africa. About two years ago, he was flying back from Mozambique and dropped me a message from Maputo Airport.It was a photo of a Signature Rare Aged whisky.
I have never seen or heard about this brand in South Africa, so the bottle was relegated to the back of the cupboard. But I kept on noticing it. It has a unique shape, and this week I decided, we can just as well taste it.
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I started doing some research on the Signature Rare Aged whisky. I found that it was a blend of Islay, Highland and Indian whisky. Master Blender Caroline Martin put this blend together. It is part of United Spirits Ltd in India and is owned by Diageo.
Launched in 1994 and is known for its iconic octagonal green-coloured bottles. The Signature Premier grain whisky is also available.
I am not sure how this bottle landed in Maputo Airport, and I have not seen it again. But it is part of Diageo, so it might not be all bad…
Signature Rare Aged Whisky Review
COUNTRY: India
ABV: 42.8%
COLOUR: Golden
NOSE: Very subtle with notes of sweetness, fruit, oak, and caramel. Green notes, menthol with a faint acid bitterness.
PALATE: The Signature whisky has a few alcohol notes when tasting it for the first time. There are notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and molasses sweetness. I am battling to get the Highland and Islay notes in this release. Hints of green grass and juniper. Water softens the alcohol notes but also tones down all the other notes.
FINISH: Short ending in sweet caramel
RATING: GOOD
Not the most complex dram. It is a bit one dimensional and inoffensive. Indeed not the worst whisky I have tried, but rather subtle and a bit unsophisticated.
Looking back at drams I did not enjoy at all; the Signature is slightly better than the Galloway Single Grain and the Schoonspruit 2010 Single Barrel whiskey.
I think it will work nicely in tall drink cocktails as an alcohol base from which to build on. I have seen this release here in Mauritius as well. Have you tried this release? Your thoughts?
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