Glenrothes 1991

This is another pleasant but one dimensional dram from Glenrothes. This particular 1991 vintage was bottled in 2008.

The nose is soft and well rounded with the familiar vanilla and citrus overtones. However, this one is a touch salty with a hint of berries. Quite nice actually.

The wood varnish and oaky palate lets me down, though. And the honey and vanilla don't really help.

The finish is long and oaky with with cloves and a bourbon-y banana after taste.

So much mediocrity.

Among my good friends, Glenrothes is a favorite distillery. The Glenrothes '89 was given as a "Best Man" gift many years ago, and the various expressions continue to be a crowd favorite to this day.

Nose: While sitting down for this review, I was already catching sweet vanilla notes from this whisky! Wow! Upon proper nosing, I pick up sherry, vanilla, and warm nectar. There is just the slightest saltiness, but it is mostly just a reminiscent aroma, not strong at all. There are spicy notes coming out upon further reflection. I expect to pick out floral notes, as that would be typical of Glenrothes, but I am reminded that the character of this bottle according to the distillery is that of "berry fruits, vanilla, and butterscotch." This description is fitting, indeed.

Body: The whisky has a light to medium body; very smooth, oily and warm.

Palate: Spicy notes hit the tongue, as caramel develops around the sides of the mouth. This sweet nectar of a whisky envelopes the mouth with warmth, developing into a spicy pastry just out of the oven. The saltiness that was ever so slight on the nose is absent entirely from the palate.

Finish: Sherry finish, with plenty of spice, putting off a sweet aroma. Not dry at all. The spicy notes continue long after the whisky is absent. I find myself licking the roof of my mouth, wanting more!

This whisky is head and shoulders better than the Select Reserve, which I also enjoy. While the SR is richer, the 91 is crisper, with a clean taste, not muddled at all. Each aroma is unique, and each taste is true. However, the bottle prices are as diverse as the tasting notes, with the 91 being nearly twice the price as the SR.

Nose: honeyed and buttery aromas (butterscotch, mocha). Caramel. Roasted nuts. Vanilla. Quite some heather. Cooked fruits with gentle spices. A hint of leather.

Mouth: similar toffee / mocha notes. Baked apples and a lovely hint of coconut cream. Roasted nuts and barley sugars in the aftertaste. Fading on spices (ginger, cloves).

Finish: not too long, with cocoa and subtle oak.

For me, this is one of the most archetypal Glenrothes expressions because of the buttery qualities, nutty flavours and spices. Of course the old versions offer more complexity and roundness, but this one is considerably less expensive.

The Glenrothes 1991, bottled in 2006, is a warm, fruity, and digestible counterpart to Islay malts. If you had a good day and don't need an intense malt, the Glenrothes is the right companion for you. The nose gets welcomed by flavours of orange and vanilla, together with very slight notes of peanuts and even less turpentine.

The body of the Glenrothes 1991 is soft and warm. It suites with rich notes of toffee and berries. It's a pleasure to hold it in the mouth for a moment before swallow it. After that, the palate is once again soft and warm, lasts a long time and contains wonderful notes of vanilla.

Overall the Glenrothes 1991 is a very good candidate for every whisky collection.