Glenrothes 1980

25 year old Speyside 56.2 % vol

1 of 182 bottles from cask no. 7127

The Glen of Rothes reaches behind the village of the same name, and the distillery overlooks the village’s ancient cemetery. Its make is licensed to Berry Bros & Rudd, the distinguished London wine merchants. This is a superb example, but curious: it has the kind of deep polished mahogany colour we associate with sherry-wood, yet it is drawn from a hogshead, which are almost always made from American oak. The first nose is winey – like old Cognac - with grape pips, nuts and Christmas cake (iced, with marzipan). Delicious to taste straight – reminiscent of Cognac, with a hint of Friar’s Balsam. Water mellows it and introduces baked crab-apples and good quality furniture polish. The mouthfeel is smooth and full-bodied; sweet (again reminiscent of Cognac), but with traces of toffee and an aftertaste of vanilla pods. These are flavours one associates with American oak. A long, reflective finish; a perfect digestif dram.

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