| |
Glenrothes
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Glenrothes, 1972 Vintage (Scotland) 
Initially very sweet on the nose, orange marmalade, developing spices, and the wood and leather smell of a vintage car. Full bodied and rich on the palate. The spices follow through from the nose, with a faint suggestion of mint and eucalyptus. The finish is long, spicy, smooth and sweet to the end. 43.0% ABV, 70cl, £190, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1975 Vintage (Scotland)
As with all expressions of The Glenrothes, the 1975 Vintage is released in keeping with the policy of bottling selected casks at their point of optimum maturity and maximum flavour. This approach allows for some fascinating variations from vintage to vintage, and the new 1975 bottling is very different from the 1994 reviewed here last month.
The nose is nutty and fruity, in particular oranges, with herbal and vanilla notes. Rich and spicy on the palate, with more vanilla, grapefruit and hazelnuts. The finish is lengthy and medium sweet. Another distinguished offering from Malt Master John Ramsay and the rest of the Glenrothes team. There is an out turn of just 3,708 bottles of this vintage.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £400, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Glenrothes, 1978 Vintage (Scotland)
The latest ‘vintage’ bottling from The Glenrothes distillery in the heart of Speyside will be the last from the 1970s, with previous releases having dated from 1979, 1972, 1973 and, most recently, 1976.
According to the distillers, “Back in 1994 the Vintage concept challenged the preconceptions of single malt Scotch whisky; it was inspired by the understanding of Berry Bros & Rudd – the wine merchant distributors of The Glenrothes – that, historically, variations in spirit and whisky flavour from one distillery were completely natural. In a Scotch whisky industry obsessed by consistency, few were prepared to admit that one bottling might be slightly different from the next. Other distillers have followed our example since.”
This is the second 1978 vintage to be bottled by The Glenrothes and it offers a floral nose of malt, toffee and stewed fruits. Apricot jam and delicate smoke. Comparatively fresh and lively for its age. Citrus fruits, vanilla and honey are present on the palate, with intense and slightly smoky spiciness. The finish is long and rich, with lingering sweet spices and finally ground ginger. Another winner from The Glenrothes.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £400.00, Berry Bros & Rudd, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1979 Single Cask (Scotland)
Occasionaly a cask of The Glenrothes will be deemed worthy of bottling as a Single Cask. These are fairly few and far between. This 1979 has oiled leather and wood polish on the nose, waxed jackets and dried fruits. Much more gently fragrant when reduced. Massive on the palate: old sherry, beeswax and dark treacle. Very long in the finish, with dark chocolate notes. Insistently drying and moreish. 55.3% ABV, 70cl, £555, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1985 Vintage (Scotland)
The Glenrothes is packaged is an eye-catching ‘sample’ bottle. The three vintages that are available at time of writing (1985, 1991 and 1994) are all excellent whiskies displaying a fascinating range of characteristics, but whisky-pages’ favourite is the 1985 expression.
This displays honey, marmalade, spices and bitter chocolate on the complex nose, with light smoke and vanilla also developing. A delicious blend of fruits, honey and spices emerge in the mouth, with smooth heather, prunes and refined oak notes. Vanilla and brittle toffee feature in the elegant and lengthy finish.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £79.95, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1988 Vintage (Scotland)
A brace of Glenrothes vintages have recently been launched, aimed principally at Far Eastern markets. According to Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director for The Glenrothes, “With the passing of time, vintages from the 1970s and 1980s are inevitably becoming more and more endangered. The 1988 Vintage is a fantastic reminder of how beautifully The Glenrothes ripens from vibrant, zesty youth to rich, full-bodied maturity.”
Initially destined for Taiwan, the 21-year-old 1988 expression will ultimately be distributed in other markets as the existing 1985 and 1987 Vintages sell out. Cox adds that “The Asian market tends to like sweeter and darker whiskies.”
The nose offers a nose of thick cut marmalade, rich oak, spicy oranges and fruit cake, while the palate is rich and full-bodied, with more oranges, vanilla and The Glenrothes’ hallmark balance and creamy texture. The finish is long and comparatively sweet, with a hint of smoke.
Initially available in Taiwan.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, NT$5,500. |  |
Glenrothes, 1991 Vintage (Scotland)
The 1991 vintage of Glenrothes has vanilla, honey, fudge and hedgerow berries on the nose. There's also a fleeting hint of spent matches. Coconut, melons, ginger and spice on the palate. Spicy and quite assertive in the finish. 43.0% ABV, 70cl, £36.50, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1994 Vintage (Scotland)
The most recent Vintage to be released by The Glenrothes dates from 1994, and, according to a Glenrothes spokesman, “For the 1994 Vintage, Malt Master John Ramsay was tasked to create the most stimulating and uplifting expression of The Glenrothes. Through meticulous cask selection and the experience of a lifetime in whisky, John has succeeded in combining the trademark flavour profile of The Glenrothes – the emphasis on citrus, spice and vanilla – with the added twist of lemon zestiness on the finish.”
A soft yet citric nose, with vanilla fudge. Fresh and approachable, with more citric notes, especially lemon. The finish is medium to long, fruity and gingery. A lithe, clean-limbed Glenrothes. Yet again, this malt surprises with its infinite variety.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £37.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, 1998 Vinage (Scotland)
43.0%ABV
The Glenrothes 1998 Vintage is being distributed in domestic markets as the core vintage expression in Taiwan, Singapore and China. It is the first bottling to carry the label signature of Gordon Motion, who has taken over as ‘Malt Master’ with the recent retirement of John Ramsay.
The Glenrothes note that “Significantly, this is the first vintage to use stocks specifically laid down for bottling as The Glenrothes upon reaching maturity. As a result it is anticipated that The Glenrothes 1998 Vintage will have greater longevity than some of the earlier vintages.”
In contrast to its older sibling, reviewed above, the comparatively youthful 1998 Vintage boasts a nose of cereal, honey and sweet, tropical fruits and raspberries. The palate is gentle and quite sweet, with vanilla custard, coconut and cinnamon notes. The finish is medium in length and spicy.
Initially available in Far Eastern markets.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, NT$1,500. |  |
Glenrothes, 25-Year-Old (Scotland)
Also destined for the travel retail trade is Glenrothes’ latest vintage offering. As the company’s Ronnie Cox notes, “The Glenrothes 25-Year-Old is a delicious whisky, exquisitely packaged. The Glenrothes has enjoyed 23 per cent sales growth in its top six markets to date this year. I am confident that this new expression will maintain the trend in the increasingly significant sector that is travel retail.”
The Glenrothes 25-Year-Old is a marriage of casks from a variety of years, including 1967, 1972, 1977, 1979. The Glenrothes centenary year (1979) provides much of the whisky for this bottling, along with some from 1980, whose character is described by Master Blender John Ramsay as “Citrus, creamy vanilla and spicy”.
A rich fruitcake of a nose, with mild spices, creamy toffee, Sherry and a developing background citric note. Water releases aromas of smoky oak. Full-bodied and rich in the mouth, with spicy oranges, cream and vanilla. The finish is long, spicy, refined, with a hint of smoke and drying oak.
Another superb vintage offering from The Glenrothes. Only 2,400 bottles produced.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £180.00, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Glenrothes, 30-Year-Old (Scotland)
A unique concept for The Glenrothes, this is a vatting of casks from the early 1970s bottled as a 30-year-old Glenrothes. Just 1134 bottles were produced. Sandalwood, nutmeg and fresh fruits on the nose. Predominantly Seville oranges, with notes of malt. Big and malty on the palate, with thick cut orange marmalade and mixed spices. Long and fudgy in the finish, with a citric hint at the very end. 50.2% ABV, 70, £245, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Glenrothes, Alba Reserve (Scotland)
Unlike many Glenrothes bottlings, this expression has been matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks, with no European oak component. Due to the absence of casks which formerly contained Sherry, Alba Reserve has Kosher certification, making it ideal for those of a strict Jewish persuasion.
This is a multi-vintage expression, lacking an age statement, and it provides an attractive, if youthful, nose of pears, cloves, coconut and white chocolate. The palate is soft and approachable, with ripe berries. Clear coconut flavor emerges when water is added. The finish is relatively sweet and consistently elegant.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £49.99, Berry Bros & Rudd. |  |
Glenrothes, Alba Reserve (Scotland)
Unlike many Glenrothes bottlings, this expression has been matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks, with no European oak component. Due to the absence of casks which formerly contained Sherry, Alba Reserve has Kosher certification, making it ideal for those of a strict Jewish persuasion.
This is a multi-vintage expression, lacking an age statement, and it provides an attractive, if youthful, nose of pears, cloves, coconut and white chocolate. The palate is soft and approachable, with ripe berries. Clear coconut flavor emerges when water is added. The finish is relatively sweet and consistently elegant.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £49.99, specialist whisky merchants. | |
Glenrothes, John Ramsay (Scotland)
Before his retirement in July, The Glenrothes’ ‘Malt Master’ John Ramsay was given a free hand to produce a ‘legacy’ bottling, having been involved with every Vintage release since 1994.
A Glenrothes spokesman notes that “John has identified a parcel of second fill American oak Sherry casks from 1973 to 1987 which have now been married together and very gradually reduced in strength, but not chill-filtered. This limited edition of only 1,400 bottles will stand as John’s legacy to The Glenrothes.
Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director, says that “This exceptional bottling is a fitting tribute to one of the quiet men of blending; John lets his whiskies do the talking. I am confident The Glenrothes John Ramsay will prove to be an extremely articulate expression that will find favour with whisky enthusiasts everywhere.”
Rich and floral on the nose, with caramel, vanilla, orange peel and dark chocolate, while the complex, balanced palate features marmalade, spice, worn leather almonds and oak. The finish is confident and long.
(available from September 2009).
46.7% ABV, 70cl, £700.00, Berry Bros & Rudd, Berry Bros & Rudd, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Glenrothes, Robur Reserve (Scotland)
The Glenrothes boasts that it is the fastest growing single malt in the world, and a new expression of the Speyside classic has been released into specialist premium retailers at travel hubs serving The Glenrothes core markets as well as major international airports.
The Glenrothes director Ronnie Cox says that “Following the success of our 25-year-old and 30-year-old whiskies, travel retail is an increasingly important channel for The Glenrothes. Robur Reserve is a deliciously spicy single malt, competitively priced, which I am confident will find favour with whisky enthusiasts everywhere.”
The name of this new Glenrothes variant derives from the Latin term for European Oak, Quercus Robur, and first fill, Spanish oak ex-Sherry casks have had a significant influence on the profile of this whisky.
An initial waft of yeast on the nose gives way to perfume, violets, dried fruits and worn leather. More fresh toffee and dried fruits develop with the addition of water. Mellow and malty on the palate, with stewed fruits, some sweet Sherry and spices. The finish is medium in length and persistently spicy. The attractive, perfumed notes from the nose are rekindled on the closing palate.
40.0% ABV, 100cl, €49.99, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Glenrothes, Select Reserve (Scotland)
No age statement. Ripe fruits, spice and toffee on the nose, with a whiff of Golden Syrup. Faint wood polish in the mouth, vanilla, spicy and slightly citric. Creamy and complex. Slightly nutty, with some orange, in the drying finish. 43.0% ABV, 70cl, £28.95, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
|
|
