Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: No
Owner: The Edrington Group
Average price: € 45.00
Official website: www.theglenrothes.com
Vote: 86/100
Looking back over the history of Glenrothes, the Speyside distillery officially founded in 1878 and which has gone through successive changes of ownership and expansions over the years, we come across a couple of disturbing anecdotes. On the night of the first distillation, 28 December 1879, a furious storm, with winds of up to 130 km/h, caused the collapse of the railway bridge over the River Tay, designed only nineteen months earlier, and a train from Edinburgh plunged into the swirling waters, leaving no survivors. As an ominous sign, fortunately, it didnt’t have consequences.
More creepy is knowing that the Glenrothes still house overlooks the old town cemetery and that the source of the water used by the distillery is the Lady Well, where Lady Mary Leslie, daughter of the Earl of Rothes, was murdered by the fearsome Wolf of Badenoch, i.e. Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan and son of the King of Scotland. Even today it is said that the ghost of the unfortunate woman roams the surrounding wooded valleys…
For a long time, Glenrothes whisky was only offered in vintage bottles with handwritten labels showing the year of distillation. Only recently has a true core range been prepared, curiously divided into two distinct sections: The Soleo Collection and The Aqua Collection.
The former includes a 10yo, a 12yo at 40% ABV, a NAS called The Whisky Maker’s Cut at 48.8% ABV, an 18yo and a 25yo. The second, a 12yo at 43% ABV and The Whisky Maker’s Cut at 40% ABV.
The whisky we are tasting today is the 12yo from the Soleo Collection, aged entirely in ex-Sherry casks (the type is not specified) and bottled in its natural colour, a very warm gold.
Tasting notes
On the nose, the influence of the barrels translates into a cheeky scent of eggnog puffs and a generous fragrance of vanilla icing sugar, along with a hint of ginger that tingles the nose, a hint of walnut and a definite hint of dates. Just around the corner, a whisper of mandarin orange and a whiff of black cherry. Unfortunately, the alcoholic note flattens the overall profile at times.
On the palate, the eggnog cream puffs and dates take over, with ginger happily spoiling things, along with ripe apricot and black cherry that is growing in strength.
The finish is of medium length: a cuddle of eggnog and black cherry arm in arm.
A whisky without a blazon, perhaps, but very enjoyable.
Soft in body and overall well-balanced in its aromas, it can also be recommended for its excellent quality/price ratio.
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