Despite a pedigree any distillery would be proud of, Glenrothes has maintained its exclusive and rare character. Remaining for over a century in the fold of the Highland Distillers company (Edrington Group), then the owner of Macallan, Bunnahabhain, Highland Park and Tamdhu, Glenrothes made a name among malt enthusiasts for the excellence of its ex-sherry casks, illustrated by the 12 Year Old released in the 80s and 90s. Although, over the years, the Glenrothes distillery and brand have passed from owner to owner (Pernod Ricard, Berry Brothers & Rudd), it has nonetheless maintained a special place in the hearts of connoisseurs, as is shown by the continual success of its 1972, 1973 and 1979 vintages, despite the majority of its production continuing to be absorbed by the blends Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse.
ABOUT THE CUVÉE
A Glenrothes single cask distilled in 1997, matured in refill sherry casks and bottled in 2016 by Signatory Vintage for the Un-chillfiltered Collection. Signatory Vintage’’s founder Andrew Symington first started out in the whisky industry selecting casks for the Prestonfield House hotel in Edinburgh. In 1988, he set up his own company, investing in a small bottling chain, which he installed in his warehouses in Edinburgh. His first bottlings were released at cask strength and without chillfiltration or colouring, all of which was still fairly rare in the late 1980s. The legendary “Dumpy bottle” series also provided information not generally shared by bottlers, including the cask number, cask type and the number of bottles produced. Bottles were numbered by hand. Signatory Vintage developed a solid reputation not only for its legendary whiskies from iconic distilleries (Springbank, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Bowmore) but also for its bottlings from very rare distilleries such as Ben Wyvis, Glen Flagler and Killyloch, and, of course, the many expressions distilled in a Lomond still from Miltonduff (Mosstowie), Glen Keith (Craigduff, Glenisla) and Glenburgie (Glencraig). In 2002, Andrew Symington bought the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry in the Highlands of Scotland. He relocated Signatory Vintage to the distillery’’s location, including its warehouses, which are opposite the distillery.