The Glenrothes 18 Single Malt Whisky is Worth Revisiting

Whether you’re a diehard whisky expert or a newcomer to the category, you’re likely familiar with the Macallan. That ever-popular single malt, which is aged almost entirely in sherry casks, can be found in virtually every bar and liquor store around the country. You might be less familiar with The Glenrothes, however, the smaller sister distillery to the Macallan that also matures its whisky predominantly in sherry casks. The Glenrothes just relaunched its excellent 18-year-old single malt with a new bottle design, so it’s time to give this admirable whisky another look.

The Macallan and the Glenrothes are both owned by Scottish drinks company Edrington, which also has distilleries and brands like Highland Park, Brugal Rum, and Wyoming Whiskey in its portfolio. The Glenrothes is an interesting brand because while there are younger expressions in its core lineup, the focus really starts with this 18-year-old expression. In scotch whisky, 18 years of maturation is kind of a sweet spot, comparable to a bourbon aged around eight to 10 years in the much more extreme climate of Kentucky.

To be honest, I haven’t spent much time with the Glenrothes lineup in recent years. Overall, the distillery has kept a much lower profile than the indefatigable Macallan, which seems to release a new ultra-aged or limited-edition expression a few times per year. There are, of course, other scotch whisky distilleries focused on sherry cask maturation, including the GlenDronach, Tamdhu, Glengoyne, and Aberlour, all of which age their whisky in sherry-seasoned barrels in varying proportions. But my revisit of Glenrothes revealed a whisky worthy of my trip as there’s a subtle and balanced character that really comes to fruition in the 18-year-old.

According to a rep for the distillery, Glenrothes 18 was aged in 100 percent sherry-seasoned casks, with American oak providing sweeter notes and European oak adding some spice. A high proportion of these are first-fill casks, although there are some refill and ex-bourbon barrels as well, but all of them “have seen sherry at some point.” The flavor notes from the different kinds of oak might sounds like brand marketing speak, but they are actually present in equal portions when you sip the whisky. The palate is full of rich vanilla and caramel notes, which avoid becoming overly sweet due to pronounced hits of ginger and pepper. There are also notes of dark fruit, maple syrup, raisin, and oak, and just a touch of heat on the pleasantly lingering finish.

Overall, Glenrothes 18 is a delicious and harmonious single malt that, while not exactly new, has been given renewed life with its appealing and more minimal packaging. Most importantly, there’s nothing minimal about this whisky’s flavor, so whether you’re a Macallan fan looking to branch out or you’re like me and you haven’t sipped Glenrothes in more than a minute, give this complex and interesting single malt a try.

Score: 92

Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review.