I’m not sure about the rest of the world (our international friends can chime in here), but I received a press release and sample of the new Glenrothes vintage coming to the U.S. in 2010. It’s a 1994 vintage, replacing the 1991. The Glenrothes website already talks of a new 1998 vintage replacing the 1994, so maybe the U.S. is a little bit behind the rest of the world with this release (which seems to be common these days…)
I tasted it informally over the holidays a couple times and like it. (It’s a lighter style of Glenrothes, though.)
I’ll get a formal review out in due time, but I just wanted to pass this on to you while I thought of it. According to the press release, it will retail for about $78.
I took time over the holidays to drink just for fun (as it should be), but I’ll be kicking the formal reviews into high gear again starting next week.
Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks, John. The 1991 seems to be a polarizing whisky (e.g., you like it a lot, Serge thinks it is no better than a middling blend). The Glenrothes looks very inviting in the bottle. Maybe I will wait for the 1994 to show up.
On a personal note, I have a achieved a milestone. I finally found a single malt that my wife enjoys. We both had drams of Springbank 10 year (with a teaspoon of water) on New Year’s Eve. She loves it! My first Springbank as well. If it ever went away, it is surely back. My favorites lightly peated whisky ever. The nose is just incredible. I also love the fact that there is no woodiness, just beutiful fruity malt with a hint if smoke and a hint of salt (a little like the brine in a jar of green olives).
Texas, yeah I thought the 1991 was fine, but I think I like this one better. (Need to do a formal review, though.) It’s light and breezy for a Glenrothes.
Springer gets better every year.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you as well, John. Thanks for creating this magazine and blog and sharing your expertise and passion with us.
John, thanks for the update on Glenrothes. My wife and I were pleased to like the ’87 so much, and to purchase some bottles of our anniversary year. We stumbled, though, over the ’91 and, more so, the Select Reserve. If the ’94 improves on the recent record, then I’m happy for them.
Texas, congrats on the mutual Springbank discovery! My wife is an attorney for a high-powered firm. She accepted my argument that it would be advantageous for her to surprise men at dinners and meetings by knowing as much or more about scotch as they did. It worked, and (as a great bonus of good taste) she enjoys drams for their own worth as well. She joins me for tastings from time to time.
Mark– what a striking anecdote. I’m sure I’ll be bringing up one element or another of it as an example of one thing or another in some conversation or other sooner rather than later.
As far as this Glenrothes goes, I’m really looking forward to trying it. I shattered a bottle of 30 year old Glenrothes from G&M this September– a moving accident. Perhaps this ’94 will be a suitable replacement.
Well, Red_Arremer…OK.
I’m glad to have a wife who appreciates whisk(e)y, and I’m glad for Texas to find a dram his wife enjoys.
John,
Thanks for this. I’m a big fan of The Glenrothes. I had asked for pricing on the 1994 last fall only to be told it was sold out (I guess that was overseas). A few weeks ago I received a note saying it was available, and surprisingly, my retail will be about the price you showed from the press release. Also glad to see your great comments on it.
John, Happy New Year.
I checked with my retailer and the Glenrothes was available in 2008 and is still available, see:
http://www.whiskyvanzuylen.nl/index.php?page=whiskys&naam=Glenrothes&id=1178
It’s in Dutch, but you get the meaning and the price, so you can compare when it will be in the US.
And, I see that the 1992 vintage is also available!
Red, so sorry to hear about your moving accident. I can’t promise this new 1994 vintage will be of equal quality, but I think you will enjoy it.
bgulien, it’s amazing how delayed some whiskies are in getting to the U.S. Oh well…better late than never I suppose.
Texas,
The Springbank 10yo is indeed a sleeper dram. The ‘problem’ with it is that Springbanks really age well, and the classic 21 year old went for under $100 a decade ago. Nowadays, bailout funds are needed for older Springers. You should also try to 10yo/100 proof version. It is all bourbon casked, and closer to the older Springbank profile, IMHO.
Slainte.
Louis
Good to see more Glenrothes coming out. No colouring, minimal chill-filtering and just good whisky without any fancy packaging. That’s what it’s all about!
Red, I feel your pain over the shattered G&M Glenrothes 30. I had a bottle of that and it was incredible.
I’m very interested to try the ’94. Hoping it can live up to other Glenrothes I’ve had.
Currently I’m enjoying MacPhail’s Collection Glenrothes 8. A very nice whisky. Even more so when one considers how inexpensive it is.
While I can’t say I am a fan of Glenrothes, I know this will be something my customer base will be after as we go through quite a bit of thier line or products.
Has anyone been able to nail down a ballpark date on release? I am unable to access thier website here @ work.
As for the Springbank, we just received the 10yr and 15yr back in stock! I am anxious to try some.
Hi Louis,
Just curious, so the 10 yr/100 proof, is more than just the 10 year with 8-10 more proof? Heck for $5 more that needs to be my next Springbank purchase.
Meant that in the most positive way, Mark. Really is an interesting story. I’ve had a great time getting my girlfriend into scotch. Her favorite is– wait a minute, I’m asking her and she’s outraged: “you’re asking me that, now, really? Is that a real question?”
She said maybe Laphroaig 30.
I’ve enjoyed the OB Glenrothes over the years, my favorite was the vintage 1979 that was release around 2002 give or take a year. The vintage 1982 released in the mid-1990s was also a treat. One of my in-laws living on Long Island had a bottle that they received as a gift. They weren’t scotch drinkers so for years, it was pretty much my bottle when I visited. Sorry to hear about the shattered 30 yo Glenrothes G&M, it was a gem, great spice, very well balanced. I last saw this at Astor Place in NYC about 3 years ago – happy hunting for a replacement.
Texas and Louis,
Based on y’all’s comments, i’m going to have to check out the springback – never had it.
JWC..FYI the 10 is $49.99 (regular $67.99) with the Spec’s Key discount. Good thing is that discount is valid into August!
Glenrothes’ vintage releases are great (not really a fan of the select reserve) but their prices are too high. They overvalue their product.
John, I await the tasting notes.
By the way, My favorite rothes is the 91; even better than the 74(?) I had. I will look later at exactly which 70s release I had.
Scott (@ 14)
My supplier (the state) tells me its available now.
Texas, thanks! I had no idea it was on sale – $50 through August?! now that is a deal i won’t be able to refuse.
…It was the ’72. I had the 1972, 1991, and 1992, along with the select reserve.
Thanks for the sympathy, John, Ralph– didn’t see your posts earlier. The details of the story are even sadder:
-The ‘Rothes broke as a result of a collision with another bottle
-Bruichladdich 20 3rd Ed., a real favorite of mine. The cork popped out & I lost 1/3 of it too. Furthermore
-As the razor-sharp weaponized top half of the ‘Rothes fell to the floor it passed through some of my left ankle. So
-An interesting mixture of fluids ended up on the floor. This all came at the end of a very long crappy day of moving. Worn down already,
-I probably would have kicked a perfectly intact bottle of Compass Box Eleuthera into the wall if it hadn’t been for my girlfriend’s intervention.
But now I’m fully recovered
. John you should devote a whole thread to bottle breaking incidents. I bet other people have some good ones as well.
Btw, All those new G&M 8 yo’s are very fine, but I don’t think the ‘Rothes really shines until you add some water.
Never had a Glenrothes I didn’t like. Had the opportunity to taste a 30 year old from Gordan & Macpahil recently and it was amazing. A nice oak noise, full bodied, creamy vanilla & sherry. Great!
I have always liked the glenrothes, the 91 is one of my regulars favorite single malts. he will be sad when it is no longer availible.
that being said i was fortunate enough to try the 79 and is was amazing
Dear All
The 94 vintage is one of the core vintages of TGR (together with the 91). Wich means it will be more available than other expressions. In Holland for example you cabn even find two expressions of the 94, wilst they were bottled in different years. It’s a bit more spicy and citruslike than the 91.
And indeed the 98 is coming up, think caramel, butterscotch and ripe fruit. In Asia also 1988 is released.
So enjoy
Jan Iedema
dutch ambassador Glenrothes
Just tasted it formally. (Review coming soon.) It is nice, but shows a lighter side of Glenrothes. For those of you who liked the heavy-hitters from the 1970s vintages, this is a different, more delicate style. Fair warning.