Glenrothes 1988 22 years old - b. 2011 - 700ml

Glenrothes 1988-2011 is a limited-edition vintage release of Glenrothes single malt. The whisky was distilled in 1988 and matured for over 22 years, before being bottled in 2011 at 43%.

Glenrothes 1988-2011 has a rich nose with aromas of fruits, vanilla, oak and spices. The palate is heavy and creamy with flavours of candied orange peel, fruit compote, soft vanilla and complex spices.

Nose: Oranges, citrus notes, berries, orange peel, earthy, floral, sweet and sour. Sadly, rarely found these days. The keyword is "old." An old-style sherry profile—something modern sherry-seasoned casks can't achieve. An ideal balance of fruit that isn't too sweet, leather, furniture polish, and plenty of spices. Licorice, too.

Palate: Very sweet entry, muddy fruitiness, aged, pleasant, musty, oily, oak spices on the tongue, sweet and sour. Sweet and fruity at first—reminiscent of Haribo Color-Rado—then nutty and spicy, without a hint of bitterness. Plenty of body for 43% ABV. Aromas of chocolate and stewed dark fruit add to the complexity.

Finish: Medium length, fruity, aged, oak spices but no bitterness. It fades beautifully. Not dry at all. American oak? Probably. Of course, 43% doesn't offer infinite length here.

The Glenrothes distillery, located in the town of Rothes in the heart of Speyside, was founded in 1878 by local whisky maker James Stuart. He formed a partnership with the businessmen Robert Dick, William Grant, and John Cruikshank. When a financial crisis hit the country in the summer of 1878, the men could no longer finance the distillery. James stepped aside and left his partners with a dilemma over what to do next. The Reverend William Sharp, though against the temptations of alcohol, wanted to help his community and raised the funds to complete work on the new Glenrothes distillery.