Quick Dram : Glenugie 31 yo 1977 Signatory

Glenugie malt is not very common nowadays, and this is not surprising due to the fact that the Distillery has not been operational since 1983.

The distillery was founded in 1831, and until it’s closure changed a few owners, and went through a silent period during WWI. In 1937 it reopened and operated until 1983, a tough year in which quite a few distilleries were closed due to harsh economic conditions in the whisky industry.

This bottling by Signatory was distilled in 1997 then was aged for 25 years in a hogshead barrel then ‘finished’ for 84 months in a Sherry butt. Quite a long finishing period as it seems, very unusual. It was then bottled in 2009 at 58.1%.

Glenugie 31 year old MOM , 1977 signatory Cask strength collection – 58.1 % , £135

Color: Amber

Nose: A lot is going on here : dried fruits, sherry influence as can be expected, some dusty notes, dark chocolate and espresso on 2nd whiff. Rubber is also present, as well as Wood spices (nutmeg, cinnamon) very nice, and not too sherried (no vinegar notes, which is cool). Lovely nose, heavy with spice.

palate: Spicy, More chocolaty than the nose suggests and this time Milk chocolate rather than dark chocolate notes, fruits (berries), and dried fruit with some lingering date and prunes aftertaste. Thick and viscous. All in all a very palate.

Finish: Dried fruit, ,marmalade, milk chocolate and some espresso notes on the end. Long warming and pleasant.

With H20 the nose becomes less rubbery, and on the palate you get more Leather notes and the finish gets a bit more bitter.

A great after dinner dram or combined with a ripe goat cheese, but i must say it’s not cheap (~160 EUR) and at this price, the bang for the buck ratio is not very good. I can think of other great drams that cost much less and give a much better ROI. However, if you do want to enjoy a nice dram which is not very common from a distillery that is no more , and you do have spare $$$ (i don’t, but who knows?) it’s a nice alternative.

Thanks for the Master of Malt for this sample from a distillery which is no more. It was a real treat.

Slainte! / L’chaim!