Glenrothes 25 Year (1980), Scott's Selection
Whisky: Glenrothes 25 Year (1980), Scott's Selection
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 55.8%
Cask: Sherry Oak
Age: 25 Years (Distilled 1980, Bottled 2005)
Nose: Fruit, malt, cream, buttercream, strawberry jam, candied cherries, shortbread cookies, hints of orange liqueur and licorice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dried fruits, sherry spice, almond, orange, herbal bitters, an underlying creaminess carried throughout.
Finish: Long and lingering with orange, cream, and almond.
Score: 7
Mental Image: Side-eyeing the Almond Cake
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was loaded with sweet and subtle notions of fruity desserts. A parade of buttercream cupcakes, some stuffed with strawberry jam, others topped with candied cherries and slivered almonds. Shortbread cookies were not to be left out as buttery-malty pastries met orange liqueur, licorice, and whipped cream. The palate was medium-bodied with a sherry-driven profile of dried apricots, mango, tangerine, and plums. A subtle spice ran under the fruits with a tickle of cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. Often quite creamy with hints of almonds, orange liqueur, and herbal bitters. The finish was long with orange, cream, and dry almonds.
The Scott’s Selection series does not provide many details on casking— everything was aged in oak, which was about as much as Scott chose to reveal. It is a given that most of the casks were refilled ex-bourbon hogsheads based on the cask’s ubiquity and the state of the scotch industry when most of the Scott’s casks were filled. This was one of the few that was obviously aged in a sherry cask; I would hazard that it was a refill butt. The sherry influence elevated the malt’s natural fruitiness, combining beautifully with its creamy nuttiness.
Overall, delightful!
