Signatory Vintage 1978 Glenglassaugh 40 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Signatory Vintage 1978 Glenglassaugh 40 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an exceptionally mature Highland release, distilled on 27 January 1978 and bottled on 12 December 2018 after four decades of maturation. Released as part of Signatory Vintage’s prestigious 30th Anniversary collection, this remarkable whisky was drawn from a single Hogshead, Cask #258, and bottled at a natural cask strength of 40.9% ABV. With an exceptionally limited outturn of just 154 bottles worldwide, this anniversary presentation is housed in a wooden box and includes two glasses. It is a rare opportunity to experience long-aged Glenglassaugh at remarkable maturity, combining tropical fruit, spice, cocoa, tobacco and elegant old oak in a highly distinctive single-cask release.

Distillery: Glenglassaugh Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Series: 30th Anniversary
Vintage: 1978
Age: 40 Years Old
ABV: 40.9%
Cask Type: Hogshead
Cask Number: 258
Outturn: 154 Bottles

Founded in 1988, Signatory Vintage has become one of Scotland’s most respected independent bottlers, recognised for its ability to source and preserve distinctive casks from across the country. The 30th Anniversary series was created to mark three decades of Signatory Vintage and featured a carefully selected range of rare and mature single casks. Glenglassaugh, founded in 1875 near Portsoy on the Moray Firth coast, has experienced several long periods of closure throughout its history, making surviving stocks from the 1970s particularly scarce. The distillery is known for a rich, fruity spirit that can develop beautifully with extended ageing. After 40 years in a single hogshead, this 1978 release displays remarkable complexity, with tropical fruit, spice, nuts, cocoa and mature oak woven together in an elegant, old-school Highland profile.

Tasting Notes:

The aroma is exceptionally complex, opening with exotic fruits including passionfruit and pineapple alongside vanilla, sweet chestnuts and an intriguing layer of star anise and cumin. As it develops, cardamom, turmeric and gentle floral notes add further depth. The palate is rich and mature, with blackcurrants and strawberries joined by cocoa, herbs and tobacco, while the long maturation introduces subtle old oak and a refined dryness. Despite its age, the whisky retains impressive fruit character and energy, with spice and savoury elements providing excellent balance. The finish is medium-long and elegant, with quince jelly, rosehip and nuts lingering alongside gentle oak and delicate spice.