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| Hello, that is considered one of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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October 1, 2024
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Two outdated unbiased Glenrothes
and some aperitifs
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Actually, you don’t actually see many new official Glenrothes anymore, do you? Twenty years in the past, they had been fairly outstanding on Whiskyfun, and it’s true that we favored them so much.
(The nonetheless home at Glenrothes in 2003, MM/WF Archive)
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Glenrothes 15 yo 2008/2023 (58.9%, Alambic Classique, Caroni Rum barrel, cask #23023, 239 bottles) 
I need to admit, the notion of giving a younger Glenrothes a Caroni Rum barrel remedy strikes me as fairly baffling, nevertheless it’s necessary to maintain an open thoughts, isn’t it? Color: gold. Nostril: there’s an odd mixture of apple juice blended with petrol and olive oil, with a rubbery, virtually sulphuric undertone within the background. Unusual and positively extremely uncommon. With water: suppose fireworks and spent matches, plus a whiff of recent wellington boots. Mouth (neat): fairly ‘trans’—virtually peaty, pretty aggressive, salty, and oily, earlier than it shifts in direction of a praline and orange observe that’s unmistakably Glenrothes. With water: a lot improved, the sulphuric edge almost vanishes, abandoning raisins, orange chutney, bitter chocolate, and a contact of tobacco. End: lengthy and really chocolaty (with water). Feedback: this one calls for a good bit of endurance—and understanding—from the taster. Primarily, it is best to leap straight to the palate after including a splash of water. Fairly the experiment!
SGP: 562 – 80 factors. |
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Glenrothes-Glenlivet 17 yo 2001/2018 (54%, Cadenhead, Genuine Assortment, bourbon hogshead, 240 bottles) 
This one had been patiently ready its flip. Color: white wine. Nostril: basic ‘Cadenhead’—pure barley eau-de-vie. Barley, recent bread, chalk, flour, and inexperienced apples… With water: extra of the identical, however now with half a kiwi and some greengages. Mouth (neat): sharp and bitter, however in a fairly charming manner. Lemon juice, grass, pears, apples, and gooseberries. The cask feels totally ‘refill’. With water: melon comes by means of, together with a slight salinity, virtually like a crisp Atlantic coastal white wine. End: medium size, changing into earthier. Very ripe apples and, oddly sufficient, a tiny oyster (actually?). Feedback: the polar reverse of that ‘Caroni’, this one’s a pure barley lover’s dram.
SGP: 541 – 84 factors. |
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Glenrothes 30 yo 1990/2020 (61.7%, Alambic Classique, Uncommon & Outdated Choice, oloroso sherry cask, cask #20026, 113 bottles) 
This one feels prefer it’s going to be a basic outdated Glenrothes, paying homage to these marvellous single casks the distillery was placing out some 20 years in the past. Color: darkish mahogany. Nostril: forty tonnes of chestnut cream and a field of Cuban cigars, with an earthy, basaltic backdrop, plus a pure sulphur observe, like black truffle and soy sauce. Then comes artichoke liqueur, Cynar, a contact of wooden glue, and really darkish chocolate (we’re speaking over 90% cacao). With water: the truffle stays dominant, however now there are prunes and a touch of orange liqueur earlier than the chocolate takes centre stage. Mouth (neat): a lot jammier than the nostril suggests, with strawberry jam, crushed pepper, outdated armagnac, and a heap of cumin-spiced tobacco (if such a factor existed). With water: the artichoke returns, joined by aubergines, chocolate, tobacco, and prunes. You would possibly even discover a number of morels. End: lengthy, drier, with little shift within the flavour profile—bitter chocolate and truffles linger. Feedback: a little bit of a fighter, with a bone-dry oloroso character main the cost. However that’s correct oloroso for us. I actually prefer it, jogs my memory of some outdated Glen***clas.
SGP: 562 – 89 factors. |
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Glenrothes 36 yo 1986/2022 (45.6%, Acla da Followers, tenth Anniversary, hogshead, cask #2125) 
I have been keen to do this one for fairly a while, and I need to say, the label is likely one of the most lovely in whisky since a minimum of the 18th century. Really. I am sorry my awful iPhone seize would not do it justice in any respect. Color: pale gold. Nostril: a touch of coconut at first, then it opens up like a nice white Burgundy Chardonnay, with buttery notes, ripe apples, toasted bread, and a mixture of acacia honey, ripe mirabelles, and quince jelly. Honeysuckle and clover spherical off this fairly pretty nostril. Mouth: loads of ripe apples and pears, white pepper, peach skins, and a contact of herbs—suppose candy woodruff and mountain crops (you’ll be reminded of Swiss Ricola sweets, naturally). There’s a chic woodiness, leaning in direction of white tea with a faint hint of mango. End: properly lengthy, staying recent with a little bit of candle wax and a citrusy contact. A slight trace of sandalwood emerges as effectively. Feedback: the fantastic thing about a cask that wasn’t too lively. Certain, it took 36 years, however with out the magic of time, whisky is simply the best, most rustic type of eau-de-vie, isn’t it?
SGP: 551 – 90 factors. |
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Glenrothes 43 yo (42.6%, Duncan Taylor, 66 bottles, 2013-2024)
A fairly particular Glenrothes, both rebottled or relabelled for Edinburgh’s Whisky Fringe this yr. I might guess, although I wouldn’t wager my life on it, that it’s a 1969 or 1970 classic—these years are plentiful in Abe Rosenberg’s stock, so far as I bear in mind from leafing by means of it way back. Color: gold. Nostril: the magnificence of what we prefer to name a ‘beehivey’ whisky—which means these with notes of outdated pinewood, pollen, honey, beeswax, nectar, and propolis, with very ripe apples within the combine. Ripe apple is likely one of the high aromas relating to whisky, and this one’s filled with it. Mouth: immensely lovely in its simplicity and modesty. Once more, ripe apple, honey, outdated wooden, and mead. It’s definitely not a showstopper, however simply imagining that Hendrix and Joplin had been doubtless nonetheless alive when this was distilled is sufficient to stir some emotion. End: not very lengthy however splendidly gentle. Beeswax and floral nectar linger gently. Feedback: maybe a bit fragile by immediately’s requirements, however actually, who cares?
SGP: 541 – 90 factors.
P.S. A captivating little hen talked about, after the tasting, that this would possibly fairly presumably stem from the Tantalus Assortment. |
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