The Speyside region of Scotland is known for hosting the largest number of whisky distilleries in this part of the United Kingdom, including the highly regarded Glenrothes Distillery. This facility, built in 1878, is known for turning out The Glenrothes Scotch brand, which these days includes special “single cask” expressions, such as the just released 1969 Single Cask #11485.
As the name implies, this very limited edition whisky was distilled on July 10, 1969, from cask #11485, a refill hogshead. The cask ultimately yielded just 133 bottles, all of which are at 42.9% ABV.
Tasting notes from the distillery for this rare expression indicate this clear and bright golden spirit, on the nose, to be grassy, with herbal tea and verbena. This opens to yogurt and mint that gives way to ginger honey cake. Once on the palate one notes what is described as “beautifully balanced licorice and barley sugar with the texture of raw silk,” before yielding to a finish that is “mouth-watering lemon, lime and coriander, Indonesian pepper and yuzu.”
Another amazing aspect of this Glenrothes offering is the packaging. Each decanter the whisky comes in was “individually created by a master craftsman at Atlantis Crystal in Alcobaca, Portugal, using the purest form of crystal, distinguished by its great resonance, transparency, luminosity and weight.” A brass plaque on one facet denotes the year of distillation and bottle number, and the head of the stopper “is fashioned from the wood of the very cask #11485 in which the whisky has matured.”
And, as if this wasn’t enough, “the outer case is fine, hand-crafted leather, reminiscent of luxury travel luggage. Each bottle comes with its own oak plinth, made from solid Scottish oak, for display purposes and a book co-written by seven leading whisky writers each contributing a chapter about The Glenrothes, its history and the whisky.”
As for pricing, expect to pony up at least £4,000 ($6,600) and upwards per bottle.
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