Whether you’re a diehard whisky expert or a newcomer to the category, you’re likely familiar with the Macallan . That ever-popular single malt, which is aged almost entirely in sherry casks, can be found in virtually every bar and liquor store around the country. You might be less familiar with The Glenrothes , however, the smaller sister distillery to the Macallan that also matures its whisky predominantly in sherry casks.
The Glenrothes just relaunched its excellent 18-year-old single malt with a new bottle design, so it’s time to give this admirable whisky another look. The Macallan and the Glenrothes are both owned by Scottish drinks company Edrington, which also has distilleries and brands like Highland Park , Brugal Rum, and Wyoming Whiskey in its portfolio. The Glenrothes is an interesting brand because while there are younger expressions in its core lineup, the focus really starts with this 18-year-old expression.
In scotch whisky, 18 years of maturation is kind of a sweet spot, comparable to a bourbon aged around eight to 10 years in the much more extreme climate of Kentucky. To be honest, I haven’t spent much time with the Glenrothes lineup in recent years. Overall, the distillery has kept a much lower profile than the indefatigable Macallan , which seems to release a new ultra-aged or limited-edition expression a few times per year.
There are, of course, other scotch whisky distilleries focused on sherry cask maturation, including the GlenDronach , Tamdhu, .
