SIMPLY SPEYSIDE
The Glenrothes Single Speyside Malt Select Reserve
by Nancy Huang

For quite some time, the whisky makers at The Glenrothes didn't want you to have a bottle of their famous Vintage Single Speyside Malt. In fact, a recent magazine advertisement proclaimed, "The Glenrothes isn’t shared around liberally. In fact, for the majority, this ad is the closest they’ll ever get to a bottle." Whisky writers who listed the Vintage Glenrothes as a must-buy product would often end their reviews with a teasing " ... if you can find it.”

But that all changes with The Glenrothes' latest release, the Select Reserve. Instead of following the tradition of bottling only exceptional vintage years (there have only been sixteen Vintages released, and fourteen have sold out), the Malt Master blended the Scotch from various batches of different, unspecified years. The result is a hybrid of exotic fruity and floral aromas, with just a hint of orange zest. A light spice lingers in the finish, rounding out the exceptionally sweet taste. Best of all, it's much easier to find than the Vintage selections, and it certainly tastes much better than a magazine ad.

Price: $45 for 750 ml bottle
For more information, visit www.theglenrothes.com