Quick tasting notes blog post to close the weekend and we’ll go with a 1989 vintage Glenrothes that was bottled in August 2016 (That’s 26 year old whisky, saved you the calculation). It was matured in Hogshead #8172 that produced 241 bottles when it was bottled by Speciality Drinks Ltd under the Single Malts of Scotland brand.

Glenrothes 1989 26 Year Old (Single Malts of Scotland) (53.8%, £110)

Nose: Malt porridge, quite lemony, generous dose of oak spices, some floral perfume in the background, yes even some lavender, vanilla, honey and pears.

Palate: Vanilla, damp oak, quite spicy with oak spices and pepper, sour unripe fruit, pears, honey with mint freshness at the end.

Finish: Medium length finish with lingering spiciness, sour fruit and pears blazed with honey.

Thoughts: Old aged Glenrothes at cask strength can be a delicious thing. The flavours are bursting here but in this case it’s leaning too hard into the spicy land and I don’t like the damp wood note in whisky. So if you like the spicy side of whisky, it’s a whisky for you.

(Official sample provided by Speciality Drinks Ltd)