Review: The Glenrothes 15 Years Old

The Glenrothes has malts at 10, 12, and 18 years old (and more) — so why not fill in the gap with a new, 15 year old expression?

“The 15” is a permanent addition to the line, matured entirely in sherry casks for its decade and a half of aging. Master whisky maker (a unique title in the business) Laura Rampling is behind the new release, reportedly sampling every cask that goes into the blend.

Also don’t miss the packaging, which features Glenrothes’ classic distillery bottle packed in a dual-layered cylinder that swivels open to reveal the whisky within.

Let’s dive in.

The Glenrothes 15 Years Old Review

There’s no shortage of sherry on the nose here — in fact, it’s practically dripping with the stuff. Boldly nutty and laden with the hallmarks of oxidized wine, this is one of the most sherry-forward whiskies I’ve encountered in years. Dense, ruddy, and earthy, it smolders with the essence of oloroso (and perhaps amontillado) sherry, evoking aromas of torched orange and grapefruit peels, black tea left out overnight to steep, and graphite mixed with sawn sandalwood. Beneath it all, layers of toasted barley add a savory quality that rumbles with an asphalt-like force.

On the palate, nothing really changes here, except for the brief appearance of a vein of chocolate running through the river of sherry. Otherwise it’s alternately driven by toasted nuts, citrus, and chewy-charry hemp rope, which adds some pungent greenery notes to the proceedings. Toasty and a little scorched on the back-end, the whisky evades the fresh, sweet fruit notes that you’ll find in whiskies like Glenrothes 25 — so come prepared for a much, much different experience.

86 proof.

B+ / $100

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