The revamped Core Collection of The Glenrothes is a mirror of our human bildungsroman — with its latest pop-up, the Speyside distillery reveals the artistry behind the maturation process.
Where the old adage “patience is a virtue” applies, one normally finds something imbued with a sense of elegant complexity and richness — such is the depth of character that time can bestow. The area of whisky is one such example. While age statements are a generally newer phenomenon, and although the same age-stated whiskies vary in quality from distillery to distillery, the belief that whiskies matured for a longer period taste better generally holds true. Speyside distillers The Glenrothes have come to recognise this, and this is reflected in their refreshed core range. Comprising the 18 and 25 Year Old expressions, the concept behind the two whiskies centres around the maturation process — specifically, the complexity and depth of flavour time imparts.
Coincidentally, the expressions embody a remarkable sense of humanity in the maturation process. Beginning with the 18 Year Old, the expression marks the point in the maturation process where The Glenrothes’ spirit begins to adopt a more complex profile. Granted, the age at which humans begin to mature varies across individuals, but for most of us, the start of our own bildungsroman begins at 18 — as does the 18 Year Old.
Compared to the 25 Year Old, the 18 Year Old is understandably a lighter expression but accurately mirrors the sweet, fruity yet spicy memories of early adolescence — notes of vanilla and orange peel are backed up by almond and ginger on the nose. The palate is everything the nose prefaces, with notes of ginger, pears, and light oak juxtaposed against a sweet vanilla base. A subtle spice note creeps in on the finish, as a hint of pepper reveals itself.
As for the 25 Year Old, the expression is borne of the understanding that time imparts wisdom, elegance, and depth. Likewise, for most people, the prefrontal cortex fully develops at age 25. This combination of biology and our life experiences at that point shapes most of the depth of personality that we settle into as we venture further into adulthood.
The 25 Year Old’s profile reflects this human sense of a deeper, more rounded and mature personality. Citrusy and sweet notes of orange peel, peaches, and caramel make up the majority of the nose, enhanced with a hint of marzipan. On the palate, notes of creamy vanilla, peaches and orange oil are immediately evident. Nutty notes of toasted almond are complemented by darker oak notes and milk chocolate, hinting at the expression’s sherry cask influence. The finish is a continuation of the sweet and rich flavours, with the nuttiness of the almond notes lingering.
As part of the festivities surrounding The Glenrothes’ refreshed Core Collection, the distillery hosted the Timeless Artistry experience at the Mandala Club, celebrating the lasting artisanship of the maturation process that goes into the distillery’s spirits. Through immersive experiences and unique artwork, The Glenrothes showcased nature’s crucial role in shaping its whiskies into the refined expressions they eventually become. South Korean actor Teo Yoo who starred in the romantic drama Past Lives and was nominated at the BAFTA Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role attended the event to experience firsthand the artistry of The Glenrothes.
Most importantly, guests also got a chance to savour the Core Collection, the limited-release 42 Year Old, and the distillery’s latest 32 Year Old — a libation dedicated to former Distillery Manager John Smith’s strength of character and pride in the distillery. Reflecting the period of his stewardship from 1897 to 1929, the expression carries the nostalgic notes of a bygone era with stewed plums, treacle toffee and Earl Grey tea filtering through.
While the Core Collection and the Timeless Artistry experience celebrate the craft behind the process in the realm of Scotch, it would be remiss to ignore the Collection’s celebration of maturity — in both the human and the spirit.
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