Glenrothes ad libitum


April 21, 2020

The Confined Sessions
Day 35
Glenrothes ad libitum

There are many Glenrothes at the indies! Lovely distillery by the way, one of the first we visited with the Malt Maniacs around twenty years ago. We had been greeted princely but those were the years when we used to be seen as ‘those strange people from the Internet’. No, really, curious creatures...

Glenrothes 10 yo (40%, OB, +/-2019)

I believe this is the humblest newish OB from the ‘Soleo Collection’. What we call a drunken name, but there, that doesn’t matter, shouldn’t be bad at all, the 12 is very good I think (WF 85). Now they may have some sh***y NAS too, not too sure. Colour: pale gold. Nose: not that gentle, not that smooth and rounded, and even slightly earthy, with notes of toasted cake and English breakfast tea. A pleasant maltiness, some chocolate, Golden Grahams, pancake syrup… All that is very pleasant I have to say. Mouth: modern and good. Butterscotch, custard, Jaffa cake, cappuccino, latte (I’ll say it again, they make latte by adding $5 to regular coffee – ha) and a touch of oak (sawdust). Finish: a tad short but we’re cool. Malt, orange syrup, cake, chicory coffee. Only the aftertaste is a tad too much on sawdust and cardboard, but few people would last until the aftertaste without having poured another dram anyway. Comments: it really is a fine dram, no complains whatsoever, on the contrary. Just cut the finish.
SGP:441 - 81 points.

Good, apéro’s sorted, on to the indies…Why not a much older one that’s been bottled at a low natural strength?

Glenrothes 30 yo 1989/ (41.9%, The Single Malts of Scotland, cask #18177, 92 bottles)

I’m always quite curious about the bottlings by these ladies and gentlemen, as I’m often finding some kind of statement behind each of them. Must be me, probably some kind of cognitive bias… Colour: gold. Nose: yeah forget. Jurançon moelleux, mango juice, orange blossom, all-flower honey from the Alpes, and fresh quince jelly. Quince jelly tears everything up anyway. In my book, in any case. Mouth: are we sure this is not from the 1970-1976 vintages? The lower strength and the herbal oak that was about to seize control are not obligatorily great news, but all the rest is perfect, honey, mead, halva, Sauternes, quinces indeed, apricots, mirabelles… So a Turner with a hole in a corner, that’s still a Turner, no? Finish: it didn’t even get too drying, but some varnishy touches come unexpected. Comments: on the edge. Great whisky with some flaws appearing, I would say. Shall we call this wee baby an imperilled masterpiece?
SGP:651 - 84 points.

Glenrothes 11 yo 2007/2019 (51.4%, North Star spirits, for Ralfy, sherry butt, 618 bottles)
This one celebrates Ralfy’s 10th anniversary. I mean, the 10th anniversary of his excellent vlog, which we keep encouraging and supporting unreservedly since its inception. Fresh, independent and pleasantly deviant voices are exactly what the whisky industry needs in my opinion, before it gets too dusty and lethally consanguineous. Now I agree, those tartan jackets… ;-). Colour: gold. Nose: cool soft honey and custard, butterscotch, Ovaltine, praline, plum cake, overripe apples, poached pears, tarte tatin, raisins, all that. With water: apple juice and cracked white pepper. Mouth (neat): extremely good, malty, jammy, on more butterscotch and shortbread, fudge, toffee, café latte, millionaire shortbread… With water: once again apples and all the kinds of cakes make thereof come to the front. Finish: medium, uncomplicated, very good, very malty. Comments: a winner at 11 years of age. You cannot make any more complex at 11 years of age. Kudos North Star and kudos Ralfy!
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Since we were celebrating a 10th anniversary…

Glenrothes 22 yo 1997/2019 (59%, Liquid Treasures, 10th anniversary, rum barrel, 109 bottles)

Hold on, isn’t that poor Melania T. on the label? To think that she could have become a cell biology researcher and won a Nobel Prize! Colour: light gold. Nose: really all on custard, tarte tatin, brioche, Jaffa cake, madeleines and shortbread, and anything similar. With water: some fine fresh oak coming out. Fresh almonds too. Mouth (neat): liquid cake, really. I guess the rum feels a bit, rather with overripe bananas in this cake, I mean case, otherwise this is a rather gigantic liquid tarte tatin indeed. With water: calvados rather than rum, that’s funny. Finish: medium, okay, malty, on cakes and tartes. Especially tarte… right, tarte tatin. Comments: once again, no complains and no quibbles. Just not a dram that will bring back Janis and Billie Holliday. See what I mean?
SGP:451 - 83 points.

Glenrothes 2007/2018 (53.4%, The Limburg Whisky Fair 2019, sherry wood)

Glenrothes 2007/2018 (53.4%, The Limburg Whisky Fair 2019, sherry wood)
Question of the day, could Glenrothes be a slightly boring dram sometimes? Discuss… But anyway, dear dear Whisky Fair, stay strong, the ‘whisky community’, should that really exist, needs you more than any other whisky fair in the world! Colour: pale gold. Nose: this will be short and sweet. Shortbread, butterscotch, oatcakes, vanilla fudge, pancake syrup, and pear cake. With water: more pears. Mouth (neat): a liquid Mars bar. A deep-fried one, naturally. Also Williams pears and just malty beer. With water: so some deep-fried Williams pear in a thin layer of Belgian chocolate. Apologies. Finish: medium. Comments: good, but what’s on TV?
SGP:541 - 80 points.

Glenrothes-Glenlivet 17 yo 2002/2019 (55.5%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, bourbon hogshead)

Glenrothes-Glenlivet 17 yo 2002/2019 (55.5%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, bourbon hogshead)
This one from two hoggies. Not sure it’ll change the world, but let’s see… (with an open heart)… Colour: white wine. Nose: malt, grass, apple pie, porridge, banana bread. With water: not too sure. Green malt? Beer? Mouth (neat): sure, yes, notes of ale, slivovitz, pears again, malt, some pleasant earthy touches… With water: it’s good, it’s okay, it’s got notes of café latte, it’s got cakes and muffins… But I think I’m about to fall asleep… Finish: good. Comments: good. Now I’ve heard there’s another lost episode of Inspektor Derrick on Netflix, so if you would excuse me…
SGP:441 - 81 points.

We’ve learnt something today, you cannot do a large Glenrothes session and keep your spirits high. It’s a good dram, but that’s the problem, it’s just a good dram. Unless, of course, you make sure you only put top-notch expressions on your tasting table. Next time, good night.

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