Review #596 - Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 16 Year Single Cask
Port Dundas, a now-extinct grain distillery, closed its doors in 2011 permanently - Diageo demolished it, instead placing their favor in the expanding Cameronbridge grain complex. This was a distillery with much history - it was established in 1811, meaning the year of demolition marked its 200th anniversary. In the late 19th century, this distillery actually reigned as the largest distillery in Scotland for a time.
Because the distillery is somewhat 'recently' closed at this point, there's still a decent amount of its grain whisky floating around the market. This example from Signatory Vintage uses spirit distilled in 2008, about 2 to 3 years before closure of the facility; the total time of aging for the grain whisky was 16 years, which it spent fully maturing in a second fill Oloroso sherry butt. At the end of that period, the cask yielded 487 bottles at a punchy cask strength of 59.9% ABV.
How does a more modern version of this ghost distillery's product hold up today?
Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 16 Year Single Cask
Scotland - Grain
Available Price: USD 99 (2025)
Age Statement: 16 Years
Strength: 59.9% ABV
Cask Makeup: Second fill Oloroso sherry butt
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled August 6, 2008; bottled November 20, 2024; cask 585875; 487 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Funky to start - dunder funk, almost like a rum. There's a hint of sharp alcohol, but then wood polish and acidic dark fruits like raisin and prune. A bit acetic, with hints of glue, but also a nice sweet perfume.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel - richly flavored, a bit spicy and tannic up front with the oak. Dark oversweet or rotten fruits like raisin arrive, as well as some blood orange; there's still a bit of that rum-like funk, too. Tons of character, but also a bit hot or sharp; time brings hints of sulphur.
Finish: Rum-raisin, fruity, oaky, even a bit savory, like a savory cereal grain. Tannins add some sharpness, and there are soft floral notes in the aftertaste; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: Wow, what an interesting bottle of single grain whisky. There's a lot going on here, which can be good and bad - some very unusual and fun flavors, but also a few flavors that came across more as off-notes. Despite that, we enjoyed tasting this, and would try it again given the chance - good whisky, but weird.
Value here is decent - probably just above average. In the realm of single grains, it's possible to get a higher age statement than this for the price, but this whisky also brings high strength and really interesting flavors, and it comes from a high-quality bottler. We think this bottle is worth it, especially if you want to find some unusual flavors.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.49
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
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