Third single cask bottling of The Glenrothes

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits has released the third in a series of single cask bottlings of The Glenrothes from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Initially only available at DFS in Singapore Airport, the Extraordinary Cask Collection meets a growing demand for the more rare older bottlings.

Ronnie Cox, brands heritage director has for the last two decades undertaken the assessment and identification of a small reserve of casks worthy of inclusion in the collection: “This cask follows our initial Extraordinary releases: a Single Cask from 1970 and a Single Cask from 1969, both of which have all sold out. The latest bottling, a venerable cask from 1968, in keeping with The Glenrothes’ philosophy to bottle at peak maturity, is now ready to be unveiled.”

The Glenrothes Extraordinary Single Cask 1968 has been bottled from the contents of Cask #13507 – a second-fill hogshead cask, filled on 19 November 1968. It has yielded just 145 bottles at a natural strength of 41.9% ABV. This expression is unchillfiltered and, like all Glenrothes’ bottlings, of completely natural colour.

The Glenrothes Extraordinary Single Cask 1968 #13507 will initially be available exclusively at DFS at Singapore Changi Airport for the month of February. It will then be available in selected domestic outlets across South East Asia and in the rest of the world.

Prices will start at SG$11,275 (£5,500, €7,000 or $9,250) and upwards per bottle.

World’s Best Design*

The shape of the instantly recognisable Glenrothes bottle has been enhanced further, using hand-blown lead crystal, for the single cask decanter but in a manner that is in keeping with the elegance of the whisky and the heritage of The Glenrothes. The essential shape has been retained but is now multi-faceted – heavy crystal at the base elevates the bottle and frames the whisky within.

Each decanter has been individually created by a master craftsman at Atlantis Crystal in Alcobaca, Portugal, using the purest form of crystal, distinguished by its great resonance, transparency, luminosity and weight.

Every bottle numbered

A plaque made of polished brass is applied to just one front facet: engraved with the year of distillation and the bottle number to ensure the uniqueness and authenticity of each individual decanter. Brass has also been used for the hand engraved collar on the neck of the decanter, supplied by Charles Stott, of the Edinburgh-based Scottish Silversmiths. In addition, the head of the stopper is fashioned from the wood of the very cask #13507 in which the whisky matured.

The Glenrothes is also recognisable by its tasting notes label – in this instance it has been positioned around the neck of the decanter to leave the body perfectly unadulterated. The label is hand-signed by the malt master, Gordon Motion, and numbered and dated thus ensuring each bottle is identifiable and unique.

The outer case is fine, hand-stitched leather, reminiscent of luxury travel luggage. Each bottle comes with its own oak plinth, made from solid Scottish oak, for display purposes and a book co-written by seven leading whisky writers each contributing a chapter about The Glenrothes, its history and the whisky.

As with the making of single malt Scotch whisky, the materials used in the packaging of The Glenrothes Single Cask are kept to a minimum – only crystal glass, brass, leather and oak have been used. Every element of the design exudes understated elegance. Where ostentation and over-elaboration is commonplace, The Glenrothes displays proud and quiet confidence.

*World Whiskies Design Awards 2013

12 February 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor