Review: The Glenrothes 25 Years Old (2024)

By David Tao | September 8, 2024 |

In late 2023, storied Speyside single malt producer The Glenrothes announced a new bottling of their oldest core expression: 25 Years Old. It’s aged a full quarter century across first-fill sherry (“a high proportion,” according to the brand), American oak, and European oak barrels.

We’ve reviewed The Glenrothes 10, 12, and 18 year releases before. Of course, a 25 year-old Glenrothes isn’t an entirely new commodity in the Scotch world, but this —aka “The 25” — is apparently a recreation helmed by Master Whisky Maker Laura Rampling. Perhaps we’ll get to try the latest 42 year old expression soon to wash it down.

The Glenrothes “The 25” Single Malt Scotch is bottled at 43% abv and is non-chill filtered with no added coloring.

Overripe fruit (peach, apricot, papaya) dominates early on the nose, which gradually evolves to juicy orange. Black walnut, almond, and vanilla extract come through a little later, evoking a creamsicle quality alongside the aforementioned orange. The whisky noses sherry-forward but certainly does reach a bit deeper into more diverse sweet and nutty notes, one might guess from the addition of that American and European oak.

My, that’s creamy; it’s like orange peel expressed across the top of sweetened condensed milk. Even at 43 percent abv, the mouthfeel is rich and borderline syrupy. This helps a very sweet, very orange-forward dram stick around long enough to get gradually oaky on the tongue. Nuts and vanilla extract come back out to play, each a touch more subdued compared to the nose. Both tart and tangy across the midpalate, it eventually dips into orange marmalade territory, with just a few flecks of baking spice to bridge the fruity and wood-forward flavors.

After the first couple sips, I thought I had a handle on everything. But drinkers, be (pleasantly) warned: The finish is deceptively long. That tangy orange marmalade fades quickly into tannin and light leather. And just when you think it’s finished, a line of candy lemon peel comes waltzing back in, providing a sweet and sour epilogue that continues for a minute or longer.

86 proof.

A / $750 / theglenrothes.com [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]