Glenrothes 25 Year (1980) Scott’s Selection

Review by: The Muskox

Finally, I get to try more of these dusty Scott’s Selection bottlings! FederalAgents found a whole bunch of these earlier this year, presumably on a trip to Narnia. This Glenrothes is the first one that I didn’t try together with a big group on a Zoom call (see the summarized group notes for all 8 bottles here].

Distillery: Glenrothes.

Bottler: Scott’s Selection.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 53.1%, cask strength.

Age: 25 years old. Distilled in 1980. Bottled in 2005.

Cask type: “Oak cask”.

Color: Gold. No colour added, un-chillfiltered.

Nose: Sweet and sherbety. Syrupy, macerated fruits – pineapple, peach cocktail, cherries, lychee, and ripe pear. Sweet flaky pastries (croissant, Portuguese egg tarts, chocolate babka), clover honey drizzle, fragrant rose, and some light cinnamon. There’s an underlying fermented funk and a bit of parsley.

Water dialed up the egg custard, plus fragrant pineapple and coconut.

Palate: Thick, pillowy texture. Rich pineapple, tartish gooseberry, and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream up front. Baby carrots? Soft tea, rose petals, and more parsley. Develops to old oak, soft herbs, toffee, and toasted marshmallow. Old pencils, tobacco, and wet wool. Ginger beer kick.

Water didn’t change much other than deflating the mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium-long and sherbety. Herbs, soft lavender, rose, and grapefruit peel. Somebody’s old couch. Toffee. Fresh-squeezed OJ. Strawberry and gooseberry. Soft brioche.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Rose-tinted nostalgia goggles”

Notes: Tasty! I heard that this one was a bit of a dud compared to the rest of the Scottses we tried, but I’m pleasantly surprised. I mean, it is my least favourite of the ones I’ve tried so far, but it’s still good. Awesome old-whisky fruit notes throughout, good complexity, an interesting rose note, and great mouthfeel and finish. I didn’t really get much of the honey that I’ve come to expect from Glenrothes. A few weird moments on the flowery and musty sides of things, but overall, a great old whisky. I’m really not sure what this whisky was matured in, but if I had to guess I’d say a tired refill sherry cask.

Final Score: 86.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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