Glenrothes 1997, The Whisky Jury

Nose: nice, juicy fruit salad. Apricots, oranges and yellow plums. Also honeydew melon and a little honey. Getting lightly tropical after a while (tangerines), with a balmy / waxy note too. Then some (Jaffa) cake, vanilla waffles and very subtle grassy notes.

Mouth: rather spirit-driven and fruit-forward again. Pears, apples, peaches and hints of green lemons. Still a warm fruity side (maybe guava) but also a more zesty, green element. Hints of vanilla and a light chalky and grassy note. Fresh bread and plain barley, as well as a few bitter drops.

Finish: medium length, with floral honey, citrus zest, gooseberries, chalk and gentle spice.

A fresh and fruity Glenrothes, always a pleasure. In fact, this stays at quite a distance from the official profile, perhaps closer to its big neighbour. A natural beauty. Now available from TWJ’s partners.

Very funny label, extremely well done if you ask me. Please do Edvard Munch's The Scream next time (perhaps with an ex-refill- STR-Laphroaig-finish?) Colour: straw. Nose: good fun indeed, with a lot of parsley and cress at first, then salty liquorice and Cuban cigars, then coriander, mint and grapefruit. In other words, it is an unusually potent, zestier Glenrothes. With water: perfect muddy porridge, sprinkled with lemon juice and… whisky indeed. Perfect breakfast. Mouth (neat): grapefruit indeed, lemons, elderflower liqueur and the spritz they're making thereof (St Germain over Aperol!) I wouldn't have said Glenrothes, I'd have said Highland Park. Could we talk to the warehouse manager? (of 1997). With water: same feelings. Excellent, but do not drown it. Finish: long, tight, lemony, yet fat, fermentary, waxy, slightly smoky… Seriously, HP. Comments: best of show this far.