{"product_id":"glenrothes-16-year-old-2009-gordon-macphail-connoisseurs-choice-single-1st-fill-sherry-hogshead-19602410-uk-exclusive-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2025-70cl","title":"Glenrothes 16 Year Old 2009 Gordon \u0026 Macphail Connoisseurs Choice Single 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon #19602410 UK Exclusive Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2025) 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eGlenrothes 16 Year Old 2009 Gordon \u0026amp; Macphail Connoisseurs Choice Single 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon #19602410 UK Exclusive Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2025) 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 302 bottles produced from a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of Gordon \u0026amp; Macphail\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArguably the most famous independent bottler of Scotch whisky there is. Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail was founded in Elgin in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. It is now owned by the Urquhart Family who have bow bottled over 350 different expressions from around 69 different distilleries. Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail is the Trading name of Speymalt Whiskies while also owning the Benromach distillery, which they purchased in 1993. Some of the brands include Connoisseurs Choice, Cask Strength, Rare Old and Speymalt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-page-layout__content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Connoisseurs Choice series is known for independently bottling carefully selected individual casks to showcase distillery character and cask influence. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFragrant fruitcake combines with raspberry and cinnamon spice. Citrus zest and butterscotch give way to hazelnuts. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eStewed apples and raisins compliment demerara sugar. Blackberries and a hint of aniseed are followed by toasted oak. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFull and long with forest fruits and spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Glenrothes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a word, Glenrothes is complex. It is a slow whisky which because of its weight takes time to mature. It also needs longer than most to open up in the glass. This notion of time and speed are central to its production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMashing is speedy, while fermentation in a mix of steel and wood is on the shorter side. A ratio of two wood to one steel balances any differences in character, while the length of the fermentation introduces a cereal note beneath the fruit. Distillation, however, is long in very tall stills with boil bulbs which help to maximise reflux and allow the full range of Glenrothes’ complexities to be teased out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk is then aged in ex-Sherry casks (European and American) which again necessitates the need for lengthy maturation. Ex-Bourbon is also used. The result is a multifaceted single malt which combines nuts and fruits with a distinctly sweet spiciness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt in 1878 at the start of the third wave of distilleries, Glenrothes almost foundered before it was even completed. Like any number of what were still speculative ventures, the initial investors (all of whom owned Macallan at the time) fell foul of wider economic circumstance, in their case the collapse of the Glasgow Bank. The group split, with William Grant (not the same as Glenfiddich), Robert Dick and John Cruikshank continuing with their Rothes plan which was only completed thanks to a timely loan from the United Free Presbyterian Church of Knockando who though strict Rechabites (teetotalers) were clearly imbued with the spirit of Christian charity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlenrothes prospered after this less than happy start and when it amalgamated with Bunnahabhain in 1887 it brought Highland Distillers into existence. With Robertson \u0026amp; Baxter as agents, Glenrothes was immediately marked out as top-class blending material, its most notable destinations being Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with many distilleries, the 1960s boom saw an increase in capacity (here from four to six stills), and continuing optimism saw another pair being added in 1980 just as the rest of the industry was calming supply down. In 1989 it once again defied the market and upped the number to ten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1987 its long relationship with Cutty Sark brought Glenrothes into the portfolio of London wine merchants Berry Brothers \u0026amp; Rudd (which owned 50% of the Cutty brand). This was given greater impetus in 1993 when Berrys repackaged the single malt and began releasing expressions as vintages rather than standard age statements. These smaller single year batches allowed Berrys to express different aspects of the whisky’s evolution during maturation (rather than differences between flavour from year to year).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years the vintages have been joined by larger volume no-age-statement releases such as Select Reserve and Alba Reserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2010, Berrys sold Cutty Sark to Edrington (the firm formed out of Highland Distillers) in exchange for ownership of The Glenrothes brand. The plant itself however remained part of Edrington and the liquid played a significant role in the firm’s blends as well as those from competitors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2017 Edrington bought the Glenrothes brand back from Berry Bros. in a bid to accelerate the single malt’s growth in international markets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e55.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Glenrothes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52947638354258,"sku":"G\u0026MGLROTH16CC2009","price":136.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/Glenrothes16YearOld2009Gordon_MacphailConnoisseursChoiceSingle1stFillSherryPuncheon_19602410UKExclusiveSpeysideSingleMaltScotchWhisky_2025_70cl.jpg?v=1773596713","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/glenrothes-16-year-old-2009-gordon-macphail-connoisseurs-choice-single-1st-fill-sherry-hogshead-19602410-uk-exclusive-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2025-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}