Glenrothes 6 Year Old 2007 Adelphi

I recently ran into my whisky buddy Laurens who offered me a sample of this young Glenrothes. Bottled in 2013 by Adelphi at a cask strength of… 66.6%. Well, this can only be a young whisky, right? Yup, distilled in 2007 and matured on a sherry cask. What a beautiful mahogany color indeed. But… 66.6%, that sounds quite devilish. I’ll keep water close by.

Despite the high ABV, it does not burn your nostrils. It is very aromatic, in fact. On the one hand all those dark and sweet notes that you would associate with ‘deep’ sherry (think figs, prunes, raisins), but on the other hand also quite green with some broth and celery salt. That green note even starts to dominate. Liquorice and some menthol. Sweet, black coffee. Tobacco leaves and a touch of rubber. Oriental spices. There is a lot going on here.

Yes, you can certainly feel the alcohol on the palate. The saliva glands go into overdrive, but I do not feel the urge to add water. Again all those dark fruits – prunes in the lead now – and those spices (curcuma!). Some orange marmalade, cherry syrup and candied grapefruit. Does turn quite picquant.

The finish is (unsurprisingly) very long, dark, sweet and spicy.

Despite the fact that this malt is rather one-dimensional, this is a very powerful Glenrothes. Thanks, Laurens!

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