For me it gotta be the Laphroaig. Once I tried it, every other whisky fell flat. There are a couple of other islay I really like, but the Laphroaig will always end up on top.

First dram after a long while and am as happy as can be.

So I went to a Glenfarclas Tasting Seminar at the always fantastic Bic Osakeya Kichijoji, but being the idiot I am, I failed to take any photos during the tasting. We had the 8 yr, the 12 yr, the 105 (which is also 8 yr, but cask strength), and two Japan only bottles, 2014 Master Distillers Select and 2017 The Intense Chapter 1.

I bought a bottle of The Intense (signed by the Brand Ambassador dude of course) and did a side by side with Aberlour A’Bunadh, one of my favorite Oloroso powerhouses. NGL, I think I like The Intense more than A’Bunadh, which I already like a lot.

Admittedly a bit of a d!ck move to say that since it’s apparently a Bic-exclusive bottling, so probably hard for most people to get, but it really is that good imho. Like everything I like about A’Bunadh, but richer, spicier, and dare I say it, more “intense”. Highly recommended for A’Bunadh fans.

Glenmorangie Signet

Bottle Specs:
Glenmorangie Signet
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
NAS
Bottling date: 12 September 2023
Bottle code: L2506471 001492
No mention of coloring or filtration on the packaging. Online research suggests it is mostly non-chill filtered and likely has color added, although I do not associate Glenmorangie with using color.

Bottle History: Picked this up at Shanghai duty-free in Dec 2025. Opened it on September 9, 2026 to celebrate a personal milestone, and have revisited it a couple of times since. I have always loved Glenmorangie for its fruity and malty character. Signet is special, with its black and gold design. It uses chocolate malt, distilled only once a year to produce espresso and cocoa intensity. It combines bourbon barrels for creaminess, sherry butts for sweetness and virgin charred oak for spice.

Rested for 20 minutes in a blender’s glass before tasting.

Color: Deep amber, golden with black hues and a golden-brown envelope. Very oily, with thick drops and lots of thin legs. Very enticing overall.

Nose: Lots of chocolate immediately after opening the bottle. Dark espresso and cocoa notes with a punch of spice and orange peel. Almost like candied orange dipped in chocolate and tiramisu. Ginger and cinnamon spice.

Palate: Velvety mouthfeel, gentle cinnamon spice with a twist of citrus. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee notes, gentle toffee, butterscotch vibes and some maltiness.

Finish: Long, warm and very satisfying. Creamy mouthfeel, almost like mocha, with gentle spice on the throat. Raisins covered in chocolate, with some bitterness balancing things out alongside orange peel.

Balance: The nose is very unique, and the chocolate and tiramisu character is lovely. The palate upholds the enthusiasm, and the finish kills it. Very contemplative and something I will savor for a long time.

With a few drops of water: The maltiness subsides a bit and more of the classic Glenmorangie character comes through. Overall, still wonderful.

My overall score: 94/100

Overall, this is truly Dr. Bill Lumsden’s magnum opus. Shame that it is NAS, but that does not matter as the quality is top-shelf.