Speyside distillery Glenrothes is replacing its range of vintage whiskies with a series of age-stated malts that ‘talk to the modern drinker’.
The new Glenrothes Soleo Collection, which will replace all existing Glenrothes expressions, features six Sherried single malts, five of which carry an age statement.
The move is a departure from the vintages – bottlings containing whisky distilled in one single year – Glenrothes has become renowned for since introducing them in 1993.
A spokesperson for Glenrothes said: ‘Premium drinkers are more confident when choosing a whisky with an age statement, as it acts as an important cue in navigating the range.
‘What’s more, to them, the age statement is indicative of a whisky with better taste and a higher quality.’
The new whiskies in the range include:
Glenrothes Soleo Collection 10 Year Old (£37), a 40% abv malt matured in Sherry-seasoned oak casks with notes of shortbread, vanilla and citrus peel.
Glenrothes Soleo Collection 12 Year Old (£42), also bottled at 40% abv and which has been matured in Sherry-seasoned casks, but which has notes of cinnamon and melon.
Glenrothes Soleo Collection Whisky Maker’s Cut (£55), a no-age-statement expression matured in first-fill Sherry-seasoned casks and bottled at 48.8% abv.
Glenrothes Soleo Collection 18 Year Old (£100), created using a high proportion of whisky matured in first-fill Sherry-seasoned casks and bottled at 43% abv.
Glenrothes Soleo Collection 25 Year Old (£375), which having also been matured in a high proportion of first-fill Sherry-seasoned casks and bottled at 43% abv, has notes of salted caramel, mango and coriander.
Glenrothes Soleo Collection 40 Year Old (price tbc), which will be introduced in February 2019.
The new Glenrothes range will continue to be presented in the same signature Glenrothes bottle, though the labels will now feature a flavour map as a guide for buyers to navigate the range.
The range is being introduced just over a year after the Glenrothes brand was sold by London wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd back to distillery owner Edrington.
