Glenrothes 1999

Glenrothes can often be a particularly edgy and sharp malt, very chiselled and complex but not eager to please due to its hardness. We tried to partly tame its sharpness with our miraculous Pedro Ximenez casks, and the result is pleasing indeed, while still retaining its angular charm. At the nose it’s deep, toasted and raisiny. At the palate it’s enormously nutty, on a perfect balance between charred notes, spiky astringency and enveloping creaminess. It’s not exactly sweet (we don’t like overly sweet finishing), but it certainly tastes round and juicy. Raisins and dates are the antechamber of an almost smoky finale. In certain ways it may bring out memories of our classic Marsala finishes, but more rounded and deeper bodied.