Glenrothes 199 19 years Single Malt

This 1995 vintage from Glenrothes was the first of their whiskies to be aged with a specific character in mind. This was made with 70% refill casks and 30% sherry-treated casks both American and Spanish oak.

Founded in 1878, the Distillery almost did not make it past the gates, but for real divine intervention. Left behind by the first round of investors Robert Dick and John Cruikshank, the founders, somehow managed to borrow the cash needed from the Teetotal United Free Presbyterian Church of Knockando. Imagine that conversation.

The lovely floral speyside spirit was quickly earmarked for blending and spent its decades producing Malt for Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse.

Glenrothes fortunes changed when they were bought by Berry Bros and Rudd, the London spirits merchants. Cutty Sark was BB and R’s brand and the fit was perfect.

In 1993 Berry’s repackaged the single malt and began releasing expressions as vintages rather than standard age statements. These smaller single year batches allowed Berry’s to express different aspects of the whisky’s evolution during maturation, rather than differences between flavor from year to year.

This fine bottle was the first.