Balmenach 2016 100 Proof Edition #57 Signatory Vintage

Profile: The Balmenach 2016 100 Proof Edition #57 Signatory Vintage at a glance

• Balmenach 2016: No smoke, but plenty of tinder
• Edition #57 of the Signatory 100 Proof Edition
• 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts: Barrel aging with plenty of influence
• Independently bottled: Balmenach as you rarely get it
• Value for money: You can hardly get more bang for your buck
• Signatory Vintage: The independent Bottler

Portrait: What makes the Balmenach 2016 100 Proof Edition #57 Signatory Vintage special

If you wonder what would happen if you combined a cask full of Scottish determination with a match, you'd inevitably end up with the 100 Proof Edition from Signatory. More specifically, the Balmenach 2016/2025, a bottling that, at 57.1% vol., just about fits the category of "drinkable dynamite." This is no coincidence, as this was precisely the strength at which gunpowder could once be soaked and ignited – and who are we to break with tradition?

The Balmenach Distillery, a Speyside insider tip, quietly produces great whiskies – but unfortunately mostly behind the scenes, e.g., for blends. Pure single malts from there? Rare as sunshine in Dufftown in November. So it's a good thing that Signatory took on this distillate – and immediately put it into a First Fill Butt (yes, that's a type of cask, not a body part).

The whisky was allowed to slumber there for nine years – until it was awakened in 2025 to march into the glass as Edition #57 under the banner of the "100 Proof" series. With a price that seems almost cheekily cheap given its power, this bottling is proof that not everything that blows has to be expensive.

Conclusion? If you don't need smoke to start a fire, this is the perfect choice.
(And if you want to know what it tastes like, you'll have to try it for yourself.)

Tasting Notes: This is how the Balmenach 2016 100 Proof Edition #57 Signatory Vintage tastes like

• Nose: spicy oak aromas meet malt sugar and a hint of honey - behind this are floral tones, fresh grass and a hint of green apples - with a little time in the glass: vanilla, butter biscuit and a subtle hint of citrus
• Palate: strong and voluminous - 57.1%vol. show presence - sweet cereal notes combine with spicy wood, nutmeg, and a hint of pepper - dried fruits and a touch of caramel mix in - the high alcohol carries the flavors well without being overwhelming
• Finish: long, warm, and spicy - oak and a subtle bitterness linger, accompanied by subtle malt notes and a slightly dry finish - a finish with structure and emphasis