1979 The Glenrothes, Editors' Cask Ref. 3828, Speyside, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (51.1%)
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The Glenrothes Distillery, Speyside
We are delighted to announce The Glenrothes has been awarded a quartet of gold medals at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2015. The honours include two Gold Medals for The Glenrothes Select Reserve and two Gold Medals for The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve. The Reserves are the heart of The Glenrothes range and have been created to give character, maturity and balance that deliver the best possible flavours.
The Glenrothes has been producing Speyside Single Malts since 1879. The Glenrothes's distillery is in Rothes in the heart of Speyside which is acknowledged by connoisseurs as the source of Scotland's finest single malts; indeed, it has the highest density of distilleries of any region. This is due to the unusually clement climate experienced in this area and the ample supply of soft water provided by the river Spey.
The Glenrothes is sought-after by Master Blenders across the land as a 'top dresser' for their blends, contributing an extra dimension of elegance, complexity and quality.
The Glenrothes Vintage Malt is the product of one year of distillation. Unlike wine, where climate is key in determining the quality of the vintage, with Single Malts it is the quality of the wood used in the oak casks which is of greatest influence.
Once a prospective Glenrothes vintage malt has been identified, its casks are systematically checked until such time as the malt is judged to be at its best for drinking; then it is bottled.
Normally this ageing process is between 10 and 16 years after distillation, producing a malt characterised by a fruity, spicy nose and a heathery-honeyed palate. On rare occasions, this ageing process can be longer, producing classics with dried fruit character and real mellowness.
Recent Awards: The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve won a Double Gold Medal at the China Wine and Spirits Awards 'Best Value' 2015.
The Glenrothes Extraordinary Single Cask 1970 picked up the whisky industry’s highest accolade for design at the World Whisky Awards 2013. It won first the sub-category for ‘Best Design – Limited Edition’ followed by the overall prize for ‘World’s Best Design’.
Speyside Whisky
To some Speyside represents the jewel in whisky’s crown. Speyside is the home of legal whisky production and it’s best known examples. Around the world Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas typify all that whisky, at it’s best has to offer. At it’s heart running from the Monadhliath mountains north to the sea, is the River Spey. It is the fastest flowing river in Britain, and also well known for its salmon fishing.
Speyside is the principal whisky-producing region: Speyside has within it some forty-six operating distilleries - over half the total number in the entire Scotland.
Speysides are essentially sweet whiskies. They have little peaty character They are typically highly perfumed, feminine and elegant.
The classical nature of Speyside’s malts means that a number of the finest malts are used almost exclusively for blending. It is the top Speysider’s that give good blends their ‘Top Dressing’.
Malts such as Mortlach, Glen Elgin, Strathmill and Benrinnes are rarely found as distillery bottlings, however when individual casks are tracked down by independent bottlers such as our Own Selection Single Malt Whiskies the resultant whisky can be quite wonderful.
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Description
One of two new releases from The Glenrothes; cask number 3828, a refill butt from 1979.
To date, fewer than one dozen single casks have been released by The Glenrothes; single casks are selected because of their individual personality and are considered a rarity.
In view of the worldwide appeal of single malt, four whisky editors from the USA, Taiwan, Germany and France were invited to make the first ever democratic selection of a cask of The Glenrothes. They visited Rothes specifically in order to select one cask in a blind tasting under the watchful eye of Gordon Motion, Malt Master.
However, such is the ability of fine single malt Scotch whisky to arouse passion and debate that consensus could not be reached. The decision was taken, therefore, to bottle two casks, each with the approval of the whisky writers who had chosen them.
According to Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director; “I was delighted with the selections made and the arguments proffered in favour of one or the other. The assiduous quartet was far from concise in its debating. The experts split into two camps and agreed to disagree – a reflection of personal tastes and preferences but two outstanding casks nevertheless.”
(theglenrothes.com, December 2011)
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