Glenrothes 1978

43% abv

Score:  90.5/100

Another great ’70s Glenrothes release.  This time from my birth year.  (Please keep all snarky comments to yourself, thank you very much).

With the ‘Rothes producing upwards of five and a half million litres annually, only a small portion of their distillate actually ends up in either one of their ‘vintage’ releases (i.e. with a year on it) or more likely, in their ‘Select Reserve’ entry level malt.  It is reassuring to note that once you move away from their blend fodder, or this rather mundane entry level whisky into some of the older vintages, you will find some real gems.

Here’s just such a one.

Aromas of raspberry jam and the best of Christmas cakes.  Fruits and fruits and more fresh fruits.  Big vanillins and a bit of caramel courtesy of cask-leeching.  Restrained honey and cinnamon stick, soft nuts, artificial cherry.  Quite a marriage.  Familiar and comfortable.

Sweet, fruity mouth-watering delivery.  Slightly wine-ish, with some nice spice dustings.  Again…jammy.  Dries into nice mellow oaky notes and fresh apple.

A lot of good things came out of 1978.  Just saying.

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt