Distillery Region-Speyside, Date Bottled-23.05.2022, Cask Type-Bourbon Hogshead, No. of Bottles-261, Cask Number-717972, Age-24 Years Old, Date Distilled-19.11.1997, Strength-54.1% alc./vol.
This exceptional hogshead was filled in the same month as the premiere of the movie “Titanic”. From a distillery that built its reputation on vintages rather than age statements, this epic cask proves 1997 to be a truly blockbuster year.
A.D.Rattray
Appearance
Mid gold in colour, with a medium thick swirl line that beads up and coats the glass. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
This has taken a while to open up, and I’m getting foam banana sweets initially. Botanicals arrive next, followed by pink lemonade, bitter lemon, wood wax and linseed oil. #thewhiskeychaps
More time and cereals come through, and it’s quite oily nosing it. Guava and lychees finish the nose for me. #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
We have a nice and oily mouthfeel, and a real fruit/spicy mix straight away. Yes the strawberry flan from the nose is here, and liquorice torpedo sweets. Mocha comes through, molasses, seared pineapple, and a touch of drying. #thewhiskeychaps
More time and white and black pepper appear, there’s some chilli heat, chocolate dipped strawberries, and it’s leaning towards fisherman’s friends throat sweets. #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
The finish is long side of medium in length for me, staying lovely and warming, and the fruits and spices continue all the way through. I’d say there’s some cask char now, with Eccles cakes and sweet syrup in a black coffee. #thewhiskeychaps
My thoughts
A 24 year old Glenrothes at a very healthy ABV, i have to say i was very keen to try this whisky. It went down well on the tasting that it was a part of, and i have to say that i agree, it’s a very good whisky in my opinion, and i certainly wouldn’t say no to a bottle. We do our tasting notes quite quickly during tastings, but i’m sure this is a bottling that could be explored for a good while, it offers loads on the nose and palate.
A big thank you goes out to Paul, Ben and Cliff for dramming along with us on the tasting this whisky was a part of. And huge thanks go out to Caryn Inglis, marketing manager at A.D.Rattray, for joining us, and for the extra information about the rest of the bottles available from their Cask Collection #66, and answering questions from me, until far too late on the evening.
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