A trio of Glenrothes

November 26, 2014

A trio of Glenrothes

Glenrothes 'Sherry Cask Reserve’ (40%, OB, 2014)

NAS, of course. And NVS as well, unlike many official Glenrothes. Yes that’s No Vintage Statement. Colour: gold. Nose: starts with whiffs of toasted oak and roasted chestnuts, then there’s rather more gingerbread. The trademark honey plus nutmeg and cinnamon from the casks. Does the job. Mouth: more or less a super-blend, a good example of a malt that could easily convince blend drinkers to switch to malt (despite the much heavier price tag and the embarrassing lack of data.) More gingerbread, spicy wood extracts, toasted oak, toasted bread and roasted nuts. Finish: rather short, on the same notes. The gingerbread really hints at some kid of woodcraftery. Comments: honest modern malt whisky, rather for beginners IMHO. A little narrow. SGP:441 - 79 points.

Glenrothes 9 yo 2004/2013 (61.2%, Douglas Laing, Provenance, cask #10191)

Oops, I had thought I had selected a lighter one at 46% vol., it’s only now that I notice the very high strength for this series. Colour: amber. Nose: bourbon. Hyper-high oak extraction, it’s not the first time we come across this very modern style – modern for Scotland. Heady coconut, vanilla, maple syrup and overripe apples, then cappuccino and fudge. Mars bar. Really, it’s almost bourbon. With water: juniper, cloves and caraway come out. Oak! Mouth (neat): some kind of spritzy bourbon indeed. A lot of ginger, vanillin, sour wood, baked apples and two tons of cinnamon. This might be a little excessive! With water: even more bourbony. Sweet oak and sweet spices. And a drop of the dreadful – and seemingly lethal – Fireball. Finish: long. Chocolate, toffee, caramel and ginger. Comments: we’ve already written that with modern wood technologies, all Scotch whiskies tended to taste the same. It’s true that I don’t find much Glenrothesness in this, but it’s certainly well made. SGP:551 - 80 points.

Let’s try to find a ‘natural’ one… Like this:

Glenrothes 1988/2013 (53%, Archives, refill sherry hogshead)

Colour: straw. Nose: a fruit salad topped with custard, honey and a little orange blossom water. Orange, bananas, pears, grapes, peaches… All nice and easy. With water: the barley comes out, together with a distant soapiness. Also chalk. All fine, no worries. Mouth (neat): oak-aged Williams pear! Which, incidentally, I like a lot. This is almost young calvados, fun stuff. With water: maybe not Michael Phelps. That’s strange because sister casks used to swim well, but this baby becomes a little cardboardy. Just a little. Finish: medium length, more on oranges and oak spices. Better! Comments: very fine, just rather forgettable. SGP:551 - 80 points.

Check the index of all Glenrothes I've tasted so far

Pete McPeat and Jack Washback


(With thanks to Walthéry's Natacha Air Hostess)