The Glenrothes Adds A Peated Scotch To Its Whisky Line

Last year, The Glenrothes Distillery debuted a new lineup of Scotch whiskies known as its Reserve Collection. The bottling we highlighted at the time, the Vintage Reserve, was a mix of select years blended together into their own expression. A new bottle now being added to this collection is Peated Cask Reserve, another non-age statement release that’s a little more on the peated side then your typical Glenrothes.

The Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve, according to the distillery, was drawn from a vatting of three 1992 Vintage casks that were finished in a barrel heralding from Islay. This extra maturation time gave this whisky the peatier notes, as Islay is known for producing some of the smokiest Scotches.

Inspiration for crafting this expression is said to have come from research into the distillery’s heritage, where it was discovered “that one of the first associations with another distillery was with a company called Highland Distilleries back in 1887. This was an association formed between The Glenrothes and the Islay Distillery Co Ltd.”

This non-age statement, mid-gold colored whisky, bottled at 80 proof, is pricing at £45 (around $70 USD). Tasting notes from Glenrothes are below and, as for availability, it will initially be available only through Marks and Spencer, an English retailer.

Nose: Nettles, new leather, peat, nutmeg and white wine.

Palate: Peat smokiness, light vanilla, spices and citrus peel.

Finish: Spicy and lingering.