Glenrothes is a distillery that I have not tried enough of yet, probably because I think their standard bottlings are mediocre at best. But I have tried some really good Glenrothes from IB's before and I hope there will be released more of it in the near future.
Glenrothes 17yo 1988-2005 54.1% James MacArthur's
Light golden color on this one, the first of two from JM in this small vertical. It smells plain spirity, no vanilla, no oak, no sherry, More in the new-make style. Needs time. It develops on toffee and licorice, much better after a couple of minutes. The taste is honeyed and burnt toast, still spirity, needs water. With some water it becomes very "bready", burnt toast and wheat flour. Nothing wrong with it and definitively an unforeseen outcome. The spirity notes are gone and a finish on molasses and pepper, ground chili and cinnamon.
It starts raw and spirity, but develops into a mellow, yet eccentric malt: 7
Glenrothes 18yo 58.2% The Golden Cask
I have little experience with the Golden Cask, but I remember a Springbank that was spot on. Same light golden color as the 1988 JM. Turns quickly hazy when poured, something that didn't happen with the JM1988. This one has a much more distinct flavor of wood, tobacco and eucalyptus/mint. A weird odor, but it doesn't put me off, not at all. The taste is, what do you call it, soulful? Malt syrup, roasted almonds, gaspachio, red wine, melted sugar, raw tender meat, garlic, sherry, amaretto, and it's so thick! This is almost like a well made barbecue glaze. I'll add water just to see what happens, although obviously not necessary. With water it gets this tonic water feel, grows in your mouth, I was stupid to dilute, but I'm going to rank this one as if not tasted with water.
A mighty warrior, would be the last one to kill in battle: 8
Glenrothes NAS 1989-? 63.8% James MacArthur's Old Master's
One Glenrothes at a crazy strength. Usually I have a sort of mixed view on whiskies above 60%. If a Fettercairn of other light highland/speysider, it might be fantastic, just as well as any young Islayer, I remember a Port Sgioba(or something like that) Port Charlotte that was utterly fantastic. But then again, the middle of the road classic malt (Macallan, Tamdhu, Linkwood, Aberlour etc..) I feel should be bottled around 50%abv. And Glenrothes falls into that category for me, but maybe this will change my mind? Color is the same as the last two, light golden, and again it gets hazy pretty quickly. The smell shows lots of spirityness. Sort of a stronger version of the 1988Jm. Needs a lot of time. Later its still spirity above anything else, usually I'd just put water in this one, but for the sake of personal science I'll try this one bare. The taste is like expected, spirity like a new-make, or high strength vodka. Needs water. Water makes it a bit better, but still it's mostly this dry spirity feeling. Something like a very dry riesling. Not as fun as the other two. Not my kind of malt.
Spirity stuff, one to get drunk with, nothing more for me unfortunately: 2.5
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