Glenrothes - unique whiskey. Its very name - "Glenrots" - is for connoisseurs a benchmark of the highest quality. And how do ordinary consumers, Russian whiskey lovers rate it? This will tell our article.
Information about products is best derived from reviews, which, despite their subjectivity and sometimes bias, reflect advantages and disadvantages. What does the consumer say about Glenrothes? In general, reviews are as enthusiastic as those of foreign whiskey lovers. It is evident that it was not in vain that in 2015 Glenrothes was awarded a gold medal at the special competition Speyside Single Malt Premium. There he went around several equally venerable competitors - single-malt whiskey hailing from a small region of Scotland. And in 2008, the brand won first place at the World Whiskies Awards. The highest award was achieved by the brand "Glenrots 1978".
Brand history
The distillery, in addition to numerous awards won at competitions, boasts a long history. It was founded in 1878. And not just anywhere, but in Speyside, considered the best region for making whiskey in all of Scotland. The production facilities of the Glenrothes distillery are based in the town of Dufftown, at its own source. It is known that the taste of whiskey mainly depends on the water used to breed alcohols. And this source provided the distillery instant popularity. Initially, new venerable whiskey was bought by other venerable producers, for example, Cutty Sark. Then the distillery began to produce its own products. But the small company has not grown into a multinational company. Well, that’s for the best. Glenrothes whiskey is still produced in Dufftown, using soft and clear water from a local source. A rather limited amount of this elite alcohol goes on sale.
Marking uniqueness
Reviews of whiskey Glenrothes bring us interesting information. It turns out that since 1993, the bottle labels of this brand do not indicate the aging time, as with other distillates, but the year of distillation. By this, Glenrothes resembles wine. Only in that case on vintage drinks the year of harvest is indicated. This vintage created the "face" of the company. After all, it is known that not all years were successful for malt. The best varieties are called “Glenrots Vintage Reserve”. But there is a series that is produced without indicating the year of distillation. But not only the vintage Glenrothes Select Reserve whiskey is so highly regarded by connoisseurs. The success of the company also lies in the fact that the manufacturer skillfully balances between strict observance of the traditions of the Scottish method of manufacture and bold experiments in this area. Therefore, the products of the distillery are presented in a wide assortment.
Something about production
All Glenrothes whiskey mints are aged for at least ten years. They ripen in old oak barrels. Containers are specially purchased in Spain from manufacturers of sherry "Oloroso". It is believed that the vapors of this alcohol, impregnated with wood, give the whiskey a fresh and soft taste, giving it a whole palette of nutty, vanilla and fruit shades. Whiskey is cold filtered. Despite the rich assortment, this brand of alcohol has its own recognizable face. This is a sweet with heady vanilla notes and a honey aftertaste against the background of a barely perceptible peat smoke. It is known that a manufacturer never paints his products artificially. But there is an amber whiskey "Glenrothes", and dark as ale. The manufacturer often experiments with barrels in which mols are aged. There are Sherry Cask Reserve and Bourbon Cask Reserve collections. The latter used bourbon containers.
Glenrothes Vintage Reserve Whiskey
Vintage collection created from ten premium spirits. Manufacturers of whiskey call this mixture "marriage" ("wedding"). Four of them date back to the last century. They were born in particularly successful 1989, 1992, 1997 and 1998. So the oldest vintage in the collection is over 28 years old. And the youngest is ten. Six vintages of this century were created in the anniversary of 2000, as well as in 01, 04, 05, 06 and 07. What do the reviews say about this single malt whiskey from Scottish Speyside? The combination of ten different vintages gave rise to an unforgettable creamy soft taste and gave the drink a silky texture. The reviews characterize the aroma of Glenrothes Vintage Reserve whiskey as distinctly fruity, with accents of citrus fruits, red berries and honey. On taste, consumers saw shades of melted cream, French vanilla, and fresh fruit.
Glenrots Select Reserve
This whiskey is produced from the best single malt malt, which are stored in reserve. A bottle of such elite alcohol does not indicate the aging time, but it is impressive. Connoisseurs of whiskey prey on some of the most successful vintages that make up this collection. These are the mols of 1978 and, especially, 1975. They came out in very limited quantities. The 1975 bottles are even labeled with numbering by the manufacturer. The reviews assure that the taste of Glenrothes Select Reserve is rich and balanced. It reveals shades of Madagascar vanilla, oak wood, white chocolate with nuances of peat haze. The aroma of elite alcohol is complex, playing with the faces of ripe fruit. The finish is long, warming, with notes of spices and honey.
Whiskey Glenrothes Alba Reserve
The name of the drink reflects the pun. On the one hand, “Alba” is the Gallic name of Scotland. On the other hand, alcohols for this whiskey ripen in barrels of white American oak Quercus Alba. Wood gives the drink its flavor, similar to creme brulee ice cream. This brand of whiskey is light golden with a fawn color. The noses of users smelled the nuances of coconut, white flowers and vanilla in a complex bouquet. In the sky, whiskey plays with hints of ripe red berries and creme brulee. In the aftertaste of medium length, vanilla sweetness and exotic coconut groves are heard. The softness and harmony of the drink allows you to use it as a long drink. Reviews assure that, despite the fortress standard forty degrees, it is very easy to drink. Moreover, the Orthodox Jews can also drink the drink, because the brand received the certificate of Rabbi Padva on kosher.
And for connoisseurs of elite whiskey, it will be interesting to learn that the Glenrots Alba Reserve brand won double gold in 2010 at the Ward Spirits Competitions in San Francisco and in 2014, 92 points in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. A bottle of such a drink costs about four and a half thousand rubles.
Sherry Kask Reserve
This is another great variety of Glenrothes whiskey, which the reviews say only good. As the name implies, the mols mature in old sherry barrels. The drink has a very soft, balanced taste, which sounds notes of orange marmalade, gingerbread, juicy fruit and hot pepper. There is no smell of haze in a complex bouquet, but the aroma of oak wood is felt. This whiskey can also be consumed as a long. There is a bottle of 700 milliliters five and a half thousand rubles.
How to drink Scotch single malt whiskey
Glenrothes may not impress at all, but it can also deliver the highest pleasure. It all depends on how you drink it. Glenrothes Vintage whiskey must be consumed following the Scottish Five S rule. Sight means to admire the color of the drink. Then sniff - Smell. Then you should move the glass in a circular motion (Swish). This will reveal the aroma and taste of whiskey. Then you need to sip, sip (Swallow) and swallow (Splash). Experts advise adding a few drops of water to the drink. The bouquet and taste of whiskey will be enriched then with new nuances. But what you can not use "Glenrothes", so it is with ice. From the cold, whiskey immediately loses some of its wonderful qualities. On the contrary, you should warm the glass in the palm of your hand in order to fully enjoy the drink.