Glenrothes 18 yr Speyside Single Malt

The Glenrothes 18 Year Old is a mature, elegant Speyside single malt built around the distillery’s hallmark combination of ripe fruit, restrained spice and sherry-seasoned oak. After 18 years of maturation, the whisky develops a richer and rounder character while retaining the bright fruitiness for which Glenrothes is known. The distillery describes the 18 as a pivotal point in its maturation range, where sweetness, spice and fruit become substantially more complex. 

The nose opens with ripe pear, vanilla, orange oil and almond, followed by dried ginger and gentle oak. On the palate, pear and creamy vanilla are joined by sweet ginger, rose water, aromatic fruit and light oak spice. The finish is lingering and elegant, balancing sweetness with ginger, pepper and mature oak rather than becoming heavily tannic. 

Cask / Aging Program

This is an important part of the appeal of the 18. It is matured exclusively in sherry-seasoned oak casks, with a high proportion of first-fill casks. Glenrothes uses both American and European oak: American oak contributes the lighter vanilla and sweeter notes, while European oak provides greater richness and spice. The distillery sources custom-made casks that are seasoned with sherry in Spain before being used for maturation in Speyside. 

Unlike many 18-year-old malts that combine bourbon and sherry maturation, there is no ex-bourbon component in the current Glenrothes 18 program. The whisky is also bottled at natural color, allowing the rich amber hue to come entirely from its 18 years in oak.

Details

• Distillery: The Glenrothes
• Region: Speyside, Scotland
• Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Age: 18 Years
• Cask Program: Exclusively sherry-seasoned oak
• Oak: American & European oak
• First Fill: High proportion of first-fill casks
• Finish: None — full maturation in sherry-seasoned casks
• Color: Natural
• ABV: 43%
• Proof: 86
• U.S. Bottle Size: 750ml