Speyside distillery Glenrothes has released its first 40-year-old single malt, an ‘unrepeatable’ limited edition whisky made using stills that have now been retired from use.
Distilled in 1978 and matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, the whisky has been bottled at 43% abv.
Gordon Motion, master whisky maker at Glenrothes, said: ‘To be able to release some of the last remaining spirit from Glenrothes’ original stills feels like we’re celebrating the end of an era and is incredibly rewarding.
‘This whisky will never exist again – that’s what makes the release of our 40 Year Old so special and highlights the true rarity of this expression.’
The whisky is said to be ‘exquisitely resinous and rich in sweetness’ with notes of ‘orange oil’ on the nose and ‘sultanas, cinnamon and nutmeg’ on the palate.
Only 594 bottles have been created, priced at £2,900 per 70cl bottle and available from 1 October exclusively from wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. and Rudd, the former owner of the Glenrothes brand.
The 40 Year Old is the latest addition to Glenrothes’ Soleo Collection, a series of age-stated bottlings designed to ‘talk to the modern drinker’ that replaced the distillery’s signature vintages.
Drinkers can enter an online ballot hosted on the Berry Bros. website to win one of 20 pairs of tickets to a tasting at the merchant’s St James’ Street location, during which winners will be able to try the new expression alongside the rest of the Soleo Collection.
