Glenrothes 2001 Vintage Cask #18 for Whisky Festival Gent 2014

At the International Whisky Festival in Ghent this year, this Glenrothes 2001 was the bottle of the show. I only visited the Sunday only to find out that it was already sold out. All 295 bottles were sold on the Saturday. That will teach me not to order beforehand, eh? Luckily my whisky buddy Rik is a bit smarter. He bought a bottle and offered me a sample, which I am grateful for.

Fruity and fresh nose on young apples, cake, vanilla, honey biscuits and lemon grass. Textbook Glenrothes. Underneath a layer of dark fruit, which makes me believe this may have been a sherry cask. Toffee and maybe even some butterscotch. Yep, this is very good.

I firstly get citrus on the full and fruity palate. Think oranges and lemon. Then the apples and honey follow in quick succession. The spices rear their collective heads: cinnamon, nutmeg and some ginger. Nice development, I have to say. While it does not become overly complex, it has enough to offer to keep things very interesting.

The finish is not really short, but not very long either. Fairly sweet with a mildly drying effect.

A very nice selection that was presented at the festival by Mr Ronnie Cox himself. Unfortunately completely sold out. Thanks, Rik!

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