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92
Glenrothes 32 year old, 1972 Vintage, 43%, $160
A very richly textured Glenrothes. A heavy, honeyed maltiness provides the foundation of this whisky, with interwoven candied fruit notes (orange, tangerine, sultana), red and black licorice, toffee, and toasted almonds. Dry, spicy, oak notes balance its sweetness and provide depth. What impresses me most about this whisky is how it evolves on the palate and continues evolving through its lengthy finish.
(1st Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#1)
92
Signatory (distilled at Glenrothes), 30 year old, 1973, 50%, $220
Glenrothes is one of those Speyside whiskies which matures very gracefully. Recent distillery bottlings (i.e. the 1979 and 1972 vintages) prove this point. This Signatory bottling also demonstrates that Glenrothes has the ability to get older and better. In this offering, the palate-coating, sticky caramel, syrupy maltiness of the whisky is rescued by firm, bold dry oak spice and lush fruit. Delicious toffee and roasted nuts longer on the finish. The 30 years in oak gives this whisky great depth, and bottling the whisky at natural cask strength ensures that the whisky is not cut off at the knees. A soothing post-prandial affair.
(3rd Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#3)
91
Glenrothes, 1987 vintage, 43%, $100
The most recent vintage from the 1980s. This whisky is very bright and lively. It dances on the palate with orange, tangerine, and lemon gum drops, balanced by vanilla, light caramel, hint of anise, and delicate oak. A whisky with great finesse and drinkability.
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)
90
The Glenrothes (1987, 43%)
Amber gold color. Rich aromas of complex fruit and vanilla. Thick and rich in body, with a mouth-coating texture. Flavors of honeyed malt, well structured fruit, and vanilla, with a long finish.
Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: low $50s Limited distribution nationwide (imported by Skyy Spirits, 212/213-9777).
Here's one of the best-kept secrets in Speyside. It is the third vintage released here in the U.S., the others being from 1979 and 1982. The 1979 vintage expressed more sherry influence than the 1982, and so does the current 1987 vintage. The extra touch of sherry influence contributes a richness and fruity complexity that makes this whisky a pure joy to drink.
(3rd Quarter 2000 Issue-Vol. 9#3)
90
The Glenrothes (1979 Vintage, 43%)
Amber color. Lush, rich aromas of rummy toffee, nuts, vanilla, with interwoven notes of glazed fruit. On the heavy side of medium in body, and silky. There are layers of sweetness on the palate (toffee, caramel, marzipan and dates), becoming nutty with a pleasing oak woodiness to balance the sweetness. Long, dryish finish with notes of spice and fruit.
Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $70. Availability: specialty retailers nationwide (imported by Skyy Spirits, 212/213-9777).
This is my favorite of all the vintage releases from this distillery. It is rich, nicely balanced, with great depth of flavor.
(1st Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#1)
89
Gordon & MacPhail Reserve (distilled at Glenrothes), 18 year old, 1986 vintage, 46%, $80
It's nice to see Gordon & MacPhail bottlings at strengths higher than 40%, and it makes this already hefty whisky even more so. It is fragrant (with subtle heather notes), rich and malty (and quite thick in texture), with notes of honey and vanilla. Interwoven fruit (sultana, along with subtle lemon and orange) add complexity. All this sweetness is rounded out nicely with a long, dry, oaky/spicy finish. A delicious, evolving whisky. (Bottled exclusively for Binny's Beverage Depot.)
(2nd Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#2)
88
Glenrothes, 1991 Vintage, 43%, $80
The newest expression from the 1990s. Heavier, richer, and more ripe that the 1987 Vintage reviewed above. It is very creamy and mouth-coating, with layers of sweetness (vanilla, caramel, light toffee, white chocolate), fruit (sultana, plum), along with a good underpinning of oak spice. A very nice effort for a whisky this young.
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)
88
The Glenrothes 1974 Vintage (29 year old, 43%)
Style: Speyside single malt scotch
Color: Amber gold
Aroma: Full and creamy. Floral, honey, fruit gum drops.
Palate: Rich and mouth-coating. Clean. Nicely balanced. Notes
of vanilla, honey, and assorted fruits up front, followed by spicy oak notes, with a dried fruit finish.
General Comments: This doesn't taste 29 years old-there's no excessive woodiness, just a tad dry on the finish. This vintage is not as heavy or sherried as the previous 1979 release, exhibiting more finesse. Personally, I think a little more sherry would have enhanced the whisky's flavors and helped to balance some of the dry notes. But still, it's a fine effort just as it is.
Price: approx. $90. Available nationwide (Skyy Spirits, 415/315-8000).
(1st Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#1)
87
The Glenrothes (1989, 43%)
Amber gold color. Rich, honeyed malt in aroma. Quite floral, with subtle notes of dried fruit. Full, rich body. Very malty flavors, with notes of honeyed fruit up front, turning dry on the finish with notes of oak, vanilla, and dried fruit.
Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: mid $50s. Available nationwide (imported by Skyy Spirits, 212/213-9777).
This distillery is one of Speyside's best kept secrets, and this particular expression tastes much more mature than its 11 years of age. The rich malty notes are especially satisfying.
(1st Quarter 2002 Issue-Vol. 11#1)
86
Peerless (distilled at Glenrothes, 1967, 35 year old, 40.5%)
Antique gold color. Rich, thick malty aroma with interwoven notes of fruit, anise, and polished oak. Medium to full in body and rich in texture and flavor, with chewy toffee, roasted nuts, vanilla fudge, and candied fruit. Soothing finish, with a gentle sweetness balanced by a soft, leathery dryness.
Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $135. Available at select retailers (imported by Duncan Taylor & Co, 323/960-9065).
Glenrothes is one of those whiskies which needs to be better known, and this is a nice example of an older one. At its best as a digestif after a pleasing meal.
(2nd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#2)
85
The Glenrothes, 1992 Vintage, 43% ABV, $55
A very fragrant, fruity whisky (orange, tangerine, plum, nectarine) with interwoven notes of honeyed malt, toasted oak, vanilla, and subtle anise. I love the creamy, mouth-coating texture of this whisky and its soothing finish. All the vintages of Glenrothes that have been released over the years are worthy of your hard-earned money, and this one is no exception. There's not as much depth as some of the older, more mature expressions, but the lively youthfulness of this whisky makes up for it.
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)
85
Glenrothes, 20 year old, 1984 Vintage, 43%, $83
This 1984 Vintage is similar in profile to its older 1972 Vintage sibling (reviewed above), except that the 1972 Vintage expresses greater depth and has more oak to balance the sweetness (the sherry notes get a bit sappy in this 1984 expression). The 1972 Vintage also evolves more on the palate, and it is more intriguing. But don't let this keep you from trying this 1984 Vintage expression. It is still a very enjoyable whisky (and more economically priced).
(1st Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#1)
84
Glenrothes Select Reserve, 40%, $45
The first non-vintage Glenrothes in recent memory, allowing the distillery more flexibility in cask selection when making a bottling. True to Glenrothes, this expression is mouth-coatingly malty, with well-integrated bright fruit notes, creamy vanilla, praline and honey. Nutty, delicately spicy finish.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
82 Signatory (distilled at Glenrothes), Cask #1082, 12 year old, 1994 vintage, 46%, $60
Very much in the Glenrothes style, with a viscous texture that clings to the palate. Very perfumed and fragrant, too, with flavors of assorted dried fruit, vanilla, golden raisin, citrus, and honey that dry quickly on the palate. A suggestion of peat lingers in the background and on the whisky’s clinging finish.
(3rd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#3)
80 Glenrothes, Cask # 13458, 1979 vintage, 43%, $995
A single cask bottling of The Glenrothes aged in a first-fill sherry cask. Only 519 bottles, all destined for the U.S. It is the richest, chewiest, sweetest, and fruitiest of all the Glenrothes whiskies reviewed here. Deep mahogany color, with notes of toffee apples, waxed fruit, burnt orange, prunes in syrup, and dark chocolate. The intensity of the sherry and length of oak-aging gives the whisky a flavor profile that begins to transcend traditional whisky flavors, expressing notes of port wine, pot-still rum, and rancio.
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)
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