The Glenrothes and a look back at 1995
Colin Joliat In 1995, I was just a boy of 12 years. I was all of about 4’6″ at the time, having not even crossed the 5-foot threshold until high school (thankfully I grew rapidly and consistently after that) . The last thing on my mind was whisky. Thankfully others didn’t let my lack of interest dissuade them from putting booze to barrel.
Unlike most distilleries, The Glenrothes labels whisky by vintage, not maturity. They refuse to be bound by the rules that say scotch should be aged 12, 15, 18, 21 or any other set number of years. Instead, they now produce “Vintages” and they bottle them when the master distiller deems them to be perfect.
Admittedly the 1995 Single Malt is the only vintage that I’ve tasted, but it instantly turned me into a fan. There are a lot of different flavors at work, encouraging that next sip to discover what else you can find. It’s fairly fruity, not that there’s anything wrong with that, and incredibly creamy. It has a little bit of heat to it, letting you know that you’re drinking a mans drink, but not so much that it affects the flavor. That heat is the result of being bottled at 86-proof. This leaves a little wiggle room to add a few drops of water and really change the flavor profile. I actually got in an argument the other day about the value of occasionally adding water to whisk(e)y, but don’t let anyone tell you it’s a disgrace.
One of my favorite things about Glenrothes is that they put tasting notes right on the label. They don’t hope that you’ll take a gamble on the whisky; they want you to know you’ll like it going in. I found the official notes to give you a little more detail though.
Appearance: Medium golden, clear and bright
Nose: Floral, citrus and butterscotch notes with a hint of spice, white pepper and cedar-wood syrup
Palate: Rich, sweet, soft flavor, leading to rich spiciness
Finish: Sugared citrus peel soft fruits, medium dry with abundant spices
OK, so you obviously want to try this now, but what more does The Glenrothes have to offer? I’m glad you asked. You know how I love turning you on to random contests, so here’s another for you. They are giving away a week-long all-expenses paid trip to the distillery in Scotland and the opportunity to help create The Vintage 2012. All you have to do is share a vintage moment with them. You don’t have to create video or participate in a huge project, just share a story. Check out the video for the contest here. As always, I’d like a Guyism reader to win so that I can silently take credit for it.
Regaling you with my shameful tale of being height challenged as a youth made me curious about what was going on back in 1995. Well, after quite a bit of research, I found it to be an excellent year. Dana Carvey’s OJ Simpson stand-up bit is a big part of what drew me to comedy in the first place, and check out thees pictures to see what was else happening. Anyone have a favorite that I missed?
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