Glenrothes 13 Year Old G&M Reserve for Maltclan

Maltclan, the whisky club from Halle (Belgium), has just launched its inaugural club bottling. It was presented at several festivals in Belgium and has been going very strong since. Could this whisky really be that good? Chris and Danny gave me a sample to check it out. It is a Gordon & Macphail release under their ‘Reserve’ label. It is a 13 Year Old Glenrothes, distilled on 23rd July 1998 and bottled on 5th January 2012. Only 231 bottles of the golden nectar were filled, at a cask strength of 56,4% ABV.

The nose is fruity and creamy. I get some apricots and baked apples with cinnamon. Milk… no, make that cream. Vanilla. Cristallized sugar. Butter cake! Surprising and very good indeed.

Despite the high ABV, this does not need any water. It prickles at first, but if you persist, you will get a wonderful dram on the palate. Creamy, again. Farm butter, sand cookies. Grainy, almost. Slightly floral. Nicely sweet and very drinkable.

The sweet finish, that lingers nicely, reveals some liquorice and mild spices. On the deathbed I get a hint of oak.

Well, it is no surprise that this bottle is selling out quickly. Powerful stuff, both ABV-wise as taste wise. To be obtained from the Maltclan club, while supplies last, for 55 EUR.

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