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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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December 28, 2022 |
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The Time Warp Sessions,
today Glenrothes 25 OB
vs 30 1966 IB |
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I've never quite managed to recognise Glenrothes when trying it blind, maybe because it's such a perfect allrounder, without many clear asperities (as they say in marketing). By the way, sometime in the 1990s, the first time I ever wanted to have a look at Glenrothes Distillery, I drove straight to... the city of Glenrothes in Fife and naturally, never found the Distillery. (photograph Glenrothes) |
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Glenrothes 25 yo (43%, OB, +/-2022) 
I'm not sure it was a great idea to part with their earlier 'all vintage' strategy. I'm not sure it was a bad one either. This baby comes at around 500€, which is a little, how would I put it, pretentious? But as my grand-mother used to say, 'if it works, it's that it's working'. Colour: gold. Nose: indeed, I wouldn't recognise it but I rather love it, with this honey, molasses, puréed chestnuts, pipe tobacco, this wee burnt wood, toffee, millionaire shortbread, coffee liqueur, fig liqueur, black tea… A rather perfect allrounder indeed. Tiny scents of old tools, soot, old cellar in the background. Mouth: the 43% work. It is rather sweet, with more puréed chestnuts (sweetened and vanilla-ed up), treacle, clover honey, mango jam, mirabelles, café latte. In truth it is rather excellent, really sweet and easy, and complex. Finish: a little short, but with the same flavours. Comments: excellent. No, we never factor in the prices, so many new whiskies would then crawl below the 50-line. Forgot to say, the Glenrothes bottle itself has always been one of my favourites, but that too doesn't count.
SGP:651 - 88 points. |
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Glenrothes 30 yo 1966/1997 (62.20%, The Bottlers, cask #15260)
The Bottlers have always had glorious whiskies in their cognac-style bottles. I can't see why this one would be any different… Colour: gold. Nose: strong and a little blocked. There cannot be only white chocolate, candy sugar and cornflakes, I would suppose... With water: soft wood, tea, oak, a little mint, celeriac, roots… Well it's not a wham-bam malt, even when reduced down to 45% (approx..) and despite some emerging honey notes. Mouth (neat): su-bli-me now. Flower water, honey, bergamot, quinces, lemon curd… Something's happening, clearly. With water: same, water doesn't change much, which is really bizarre. The good news is that it was already rather brilliant when at full strength. No, wait, whoops, it's closing, it's even getting teaish… no, wait, now it's taking off again, getting fruitier again… Finish: medium, a little oaky, but there's some lovely marzipan, and orgeat. Mirabelle and quince, the usual compadres, in the aftertaste. Comments: hard to follow and you'll sure have to be a master of the pipette to get the most of it.
SGP:561 - 88 points. |
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