This Glenrothes 1970 is a joint bottling by eSpirits in Germany and Acorn in Japan, in honour of the 150th Anniversary of the German – Japanese friendship.
In 1861, the King of Prussia and the Tycoon of Japan signed a treaty of peace and constant friendship and indeed in 2011 both countries still enjoy close and friendly relations.
Glenrothes 41 yo 1970 (45,1%, eSpirits & Acorn 2011, bourbon hogshead, 113 btl.)
Glenrothes 41 yo 1970 (45,1%, eSpirits & Acorn 2011, bourbon hogshead, 113 btl.)Nose: at first it suffers from an avalanche of polished oak, varnish and wood glue. After some time these notes start to give way to nice fruits underneath. Apricots, pineapple, guava, tangerine. A little mint and leather.
Mouth: easy drinking strength, again a tropical fruitiness of pineapple / coconut, gooseberries and papaya. Again some oak in the background – better under control now, but showing some herbs and fruit tea as well as a slightly bitter edge. It remains pretty juicy though.
Finish: medium long, on sweet oak and spices, mainly ginger.
This Glenrothes is a nice drinking whisky, but the recent expressions in the TWA Romantique series and Angel’s Choice series were more to my liking (less oaky) and a tad cheaper. Around € 250.
Score: 87/100