Glenrothes 23 Years Old 1989 Cask Strength Collection

By Barry Bradford on October 7, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )

Glenrothes 1989 Aged 23 Years Signatory Cask Strength (53.9%, Signatory, Refill Sherry Butt #24382, 651 Bottles, 2013)

Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
Origin: Glenrothes distillery
Bottling: Signatory, Cask Strength Collection, Cask 24382
ABV: 53.9%
Cost: £85.00

What they say

Bottled by Signatory as part of their Cask Strength Collection, a range of vintage whiskies presented at their natural strengths, this Glenrothes 23 Year Old distilled 31/12/1989 and bottled 11/07/2013 comes from cask 24382, a refill Sherry butt. 651 bottles were produced.

What I say

Distilled in 1989 at Glen Rothes (!?) or Glenrothes distillery and matured in refill sherry butt for 23 years before bottling in 2013.

My tasting notes:

Colour: Dark Amber
Nose: Toffee, butterscotch, malted cereal barley, dried fruits, raisin, prune, fig, tobacco leaf and cigar boxes, tannic leather and chocolate
Taste: Full bodied, quite creamy but full of dark treacle, black cherries, toffee and cocoa, black forest gateaux with hints of cinnamon and clove spices
Finish: Long, bitter dark chocolate, dried fruits and wood spices, becomes drying

Overall

A delicious sherry-matured Glenrothes expression that reminded me of Black Forest Gateaux with its mixture of dark cherry and chocolate flavours and creamy texture.