Glenrothes was founded in 1879 through the work of James Stuart, a local Rothes businessman who began the construction of the distillery, and the Reverend William Sharp, who secured the remaining funds after Stuart was forced to step aside for financial reasons. Though a series of fires, explosions and world events hampered production at times, the distillery has been making whisky for over 140 years for a variety of owners. Much of the Glenrothes stock is aged in ex-sherry casks and some ex-bourbon casks, but like many distilleries, they like to experiment. The Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve was part of a now discontinued series from 2016 that saw whisky from their 1992 stock finished for a few months in (unnamed) ex-Islay casks. Apparently this was inspired by an association from the 19th century the distillery had with the Islay Distillery Company.
Distillery: Glenrothes
Region: Speyside
Age: NAS
Strength: 40%
Price: $28.98
Maturation: ex-Islay casks
Location: Rothes
Nose: Canned pears, orange blossom, vanilla, floral
Palate: Oak, black pepper, smoke, peat
Finish: Oak, green olive, black pepper, peat
Comments: Let this one sit in your glass a bit.
Adam – I like how light and floral the Peated Cask Reserve is on the nose. I’m often a little hesitant on Islay casks when used as finishing. The base spirit still dominates, with the finish seen in light touches here and there, adding a twist of complexity rather than dominating. This is a very different scotch in some ways than the Sherry Cask Reserve, with the olive and black pepper more present in the palate and finish. I’m a little surprised at how much I enjoy this one, considering I generally don’t like brine often found in olives. Perhaps because it is integrated with other flavors and does not dominate, even if it leads at the fore. With a few more larger sips, the floral notes bring a touch of sweetness to the tongue. This feels like it might be a lovely scotch on a summer afternoon in the backyard. Maybe not for a BBQ, but I could see where some cheese and crackers could make a nice pairing.
Meghan – It tastes like green wood smoke, and some green olives.
There’s something about this that reminds me of an old fashioned cocktail.
Caitlin – I really like the Peated Cask Reserve. It’s not burning my face off right away like some other scotches can do. I don’t tend to hold the scotch on my tongue very often, it’s rare that I do, but I like doing that with this one. Its helps keep the chill away.
Ben – It’s almost like a juice box by smell. After I take a sip and the oak is strong, when I go back the nose is stronger in oak. it’s like a martini
Kate – There’s something about this that reminds me of an old fashioned cocktail. It has characteristics of vermouth. I get orange oil or zest on the nose,
Henry – The nose gets sweeter the longer and deeper you breath it in. Pear, orange blossom, vanilla, and sweet floral notes (almost Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum) on the nose suddenly yields to green olive, black pepper, and very oaky dryness on the palate. A hint of green wood and peat brings up the rear with more dryness.
