Anyone exploring independent Bottlers in 2025 is bound to come across the Signatory Vintage 100 proof series. For many, this affordable entry into Independent Bottlers represents the best value in whisky right now. It comes as no surprise that the series, as a whole, won the 2025 OSWA as best value whisky. So, after a classic of IBs like the Linkwood, today’s review is for the Signatory Vintage 100 proof series Mannochmore 2012
TL:DR: Easy to criticise for the strong Sherry influence, but hard to argue with the value
Score: 6, good stuff
What is the 100 proof series?
If you haven’t heard of the 100 Proof Series, either you live in a geography where it has not been distributed (the US, I believe, is one of those), you are new to whisky, or you have been living under a rock.
This is a series of affordable, Independently Bottled whiskies, mostly single malts, all bottled at 100 Proof strength. Here, 100 Proof stands for the UK/Imperial unit, which translates to 57.1% ABV, rather than the US one equating to 50% ABV. It is produced by Signatory Vintage, one of Scotland’s most respected independent bottlers, founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington.
The 100 Proof Series praises
After a couple of releases in 2023, which went mostly under the radar, this series exploded in 2024. Having high proof whisky from a respected bottler, at a great price (just under 50 €/£), when the rest of the market was seeing rising whisky prices, was godsent for many.
Having the opportunity to explore stock from a variety of distilleries, from a respected IB like Signatory Vintage, created a bit of a rush to grab new releases. This was especially the case for those releases from more sought-after distilleries like Mortlach. Or the Speyside (M), believed by many to be Macallan, which I used as an example of distillery synonyms in my last IB 101 post.
In addition, the lack of chill filtration and caramel colouring, like for all Signatory’s releases, resonates with the whisky aficionado community at large. The OSWA victory I mentioned in the introduction was the inevitable consequence. There have been occasional rumours of the series stopping at some point, but for the moment, it continues to go strong as is fast approaching release number 70.
While many drinkers have rejoiced at the availability of the 100 Proof Series, the series has not been without critics.
The 100 Proof Series critiques
The main critique, and one that is hard to argue about, is that the majority of the releases have been aged fully or partially in Sherry casks. For some, this makes many releases too similar in style. For others, who prefer a profile more true to the spirit, the limited amount of ex-bourbon releases is disappointing. This is certainly a series which will resonate more with the sherry-cask fans.
Others argue that the casks chosen by Signatory are not their best. This, to me, is a fallacy. I do not doubt that the casks used are not the best Signatory Vintage has in stock. At the same time, it is pretty evident that Signatory introduced the 100 Proof Series to fill a gap in its range at a lower price level. I would not expect the best casks, usually released under the Symington’s Choice range, to be price-dumped for what is, in all effects, an entry-level product.
Finally, the range ruffled some feathers in the business. In a post on its own blog, Edinburgh distillery complained about a race to the bottom, going for sales at the cost of margin, without mentioning Signatory in all but name. Not everyone agreed with Woodrow’s maths or conclusion, as this well-argued article on Dramface shows, providing a different take on the likely margins.
Be as it may, this range continues to proove extremely popular. So let’s jump right into the review of the Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Series Mannochmore 2012.
Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Series Mannochmore 2012, 11 yers old
Specs
Price paid: €47.90
Lot: 100 proof edition #13
ABV: 57.1%
Natural colour: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Casks Used: 1st fill Oloroso Sherry butts
Tasting Notes
Colour: a rich russet amber, a clear sign of the first fill Sherry ageing.
Nose: The aromas are quite intense but relatively simple. The main character comes from the sherry. Cola cubes, baking spices, some red berries, and a hint of walnuts. There is a slight acetic hint, but luckily no strong sulfuric note, which sometimes comes with sherry cask. In the background, there is some fruit, quince jam, or membrillo, some pear and vanilla.
With water, the sherry notes mellow out, but remain quite dominant. The fruit and vanilla become more noticeable, but it doesn’t change the profile that much. More like changing the equaliser profile on a song than listening to a different tune.
Taste and finish: Rich and oily, and while inevitably warm at 57.1%, it is not hot. The palate is a bit more interesting than the relatively simple note. Sure, the Sherry dominates here as well, but the notes are more distinctive. There is an underlying creamy taste of malt on which the sherry notes of raisins, baking spice, walnuts, mocha and almonds are layered upon. The finish is medium, all dried fruit, cola cubes and a little mocha.
With water, it gets quite spicy and woody, less warm clearly, but also less complex. I definitely prefer it undiluted
Score: 6, good stuff
It would be easy to raise the critique points I highlighted earlier for this Mannochmore. It is heavily sherried and not particularly characterful. For me, that general critique of the 100 proof series has some validity when looking at the series as a whole. Yet, looking at the Signatory Vintage 100 proof series Mannochmore 2012 in today’s review, I need to judge it as an individual bottle.
And seen as such, it is a solid, very affordable, high ABV dram which delivers what it promises. It probably appeals more to lovers of sherried entry-level whiskies like the GlenAllachie 12 than it does to me in this moment. I purchased a few bottles from the series when the series was released, but I have become more selective and nowadays I prefer to wait for those releases which are not in Oloroso Sherry. Make of that what you will. This is, in any case, a good, solid bottle of whisky.
* Scores are based on the scoring scale used by Dramface, slightly modified to allow half-points
After writing my tasting notes, I always find it interesting to look at other opinions. Here are another review of the Signatory Vintage 100 proof Mannochmore 2012 I enjoyed:
Interested in my take on a specific whisky style? Check the full Journey here and jump to the relevant Chapter.
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