Investigating the Glenrothes distillate Pt.1 - DL Old Particular Glenrothes 2007 14 yo 48.4%
Throughout this series, we'll take a closer look at Glenrothes and explore how its distillate evolves in different types of casks, particularly those bottled by independent bottlers. I've always had a soft spot for this distillery and its releases, and I hope you'll enjoy the journey—and maybe even discover a new favorite along the way!
Before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅
About the distillery
The Glenrothes distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery. The Glenrothes distillery is located in the town of Rothes in the heart of the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery sits beside the Burn of Rothes, hidden in a glen on the edge of the town.
In 1878, construction began on the site of a former sawmill. James Stewart was the first to take on the task of building the distillery, but financial troubles forced him to step back. Robert Dick and William Grant stepped in, completed the build, and officially began production in December 1879.
The timing was good—demand for whisky was on the rise. By 1887, when Glenrothes joined forces with Bunnahabhain to form Highland Distillers, annual production had already reached 360,000 liters. After two more stills were added in 1896, output increased to 1.36 million liters by 1898.
The distillery faced its share of setbacks. Fires in 1897 and 1922 caused major damage, and a devastating explosion in 1903 nearly wiped it out completely. Each time, though, the distillery was rebuilt and brought back to life. Ironically, it wasn't fire or explosions that shut things down—it was the combination of Prohibition, World War I, and the 1929 Wall Street Crash that finally forced the distillery to close. But not for long: Glenrothes was soon back in business once the worst had passed.
In 1963, a third pair of stills was installed, and the distillery switched from direct fire heating to internal steam—ushering in a more modern era. By 1979, a fourth pair of stills had been added, and that same year, the spirit that would become the first Glenrothes Vintage was laid down in casks. The distillery kept growing. In 1989, a fifth pair of stills pushed production up to 5.6 million liters annually.
The Glenrothes Vintage 1979 was finally released in 1994, marking a new chapter for the brand—one focused on vintage releases that highlight specific years. In 1999, the Edrington Group acquired Highland Distillers (and with it, The Glenrothes). Then in 2010, the distillery changed hands again, this time to Berry Bros. & Rudd. In 2017 Edrington bought back the distillery for an undisclosed sum from BB&R.
The Glenrothes Distillery sits at the foot of the Mannoch Hills, right next to the Rothes Burn. Its water comes from two natural springs—Ardcanny and Brauchhill—which also feed the burn. While Glenrothes doesn't do its own malting on-site, the malted barley doesn't travel far; it comes from Tamdhu Maltings, just 12 miles away.
Like most Scottish distilleries, Glenrothes handles its own milling, mashing, and distilling. But one thing that sets it apart is its on-site cooperage—a rare feature these days. Having their own coopers means they can maintain and repair casks with precision, ensuring quality right from the wood to the whisky.
The stillhouse at The Glenrothes is home to ten pot stills—five wash stills and five spirit stills, working in pairs. Their tall, elegant design helps create a light, fruity, and refined spirit. The heart of the distillation run, which constitutes around 20% of the total output, comes off the still at a strength of 68–72% ABV.
Casks are filled at an average strength of 68.9% ABV—significantly higher than the industry standard of 63.5% ABV. This means the spirit is often filled into casks at the strength it comes off the second distillation. The distillery primarily uses Sherry casks to achieve the signature fruity and aromatic character The Glenrothes is known for, complemented by Bourbon casks that add a balanced layer of flavor. Maturation is closely monitored, and only whiskies deemed to have reached their peak maturity are selected for bottling.
Their core range
The current core range is showcased through the Soleo Collection—four expressions aged between 10 and 25 years. Additionally, the range includes a no-age-statement (NAS) expression known as the Whisky Maker's Cut.
- 10 year old - Bourbon & Sherry casks 40% ABV
- 12 year old - Bourbon & Sherry casks 40% ABV
- 18 year old - Bourbon & Sherry casks 43% ABV
- 25 year old - Bourbon & Sherry casks 42% ABV
- Whisky Maker's Cut - Bourbon & Sherry casks 48% ABV
DL Old Particular Glenrothes 2007 14 yo - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 48.4%
Douglas Laing & Co is an independent bottler of Scotch whisky. Based in Glasgow, Scotland and established in 1948, the company has a number of brands including its "Remarkable Regional Malts" range, encompassing The Epicurean, Timorous Beastie, Scallywag, Rock Island and Big Peat, as well as Old Particular, Provenance and Xtra Old Particular, which they collectively call their "Exceptional Single Casks". The firm also creates and sells King of Scots Blended Scotch Whisky, Clan Denny Single Casks and Premier Barrel. They also own a distillery that is new called the Strathearn Distillery.
One of 379 bottles
Charged from a refill hogshead
Ref: DL15242
Nose: Oh well. All of these refill Old Particulars seem to have this fresh, playful, clean note. Love it. Vanilla, malted barley and breakfast cereals at first. A very nice bread-y note comes forward. Like a freshly baked bread. French toast and salty butter. Digestives biscuits follow and then a basket of citrus fruits and green apples. A very distant hint of oak and spices. Lovely. Clean. Nice.
Taste: Very fresh, sparkly. Waxy. Orchard fruits such as green apples and pears. A huge malty base to support everything. Breakfast cereals, wholegrain bread, biscuits and french toast. Seville oranges and citrus peel. Freshly cut grass and some hay. There is a nice spicy backbone of it all. Cinnamon and black pepper with some cardamom. Alcohol is well integrated. Very clean, smooth and tasty!
Finish: It is quite long. Leaves with a nice black pepper rush. Malted barley and bread. A hint of espresso and oak balanced out by sweet vanilla, honey and peaches. Great.
This Glenrothes 14-year-old from Douglas Laing's Old Particular range is a fresh, clean, and delightfully playful dram. A beautifully balanced whisky that showcases the elegance of a well-matured refill cask. The distillery DNA comes out very well. From my research people tend to say the the DNA consists of that bread-y, cereal-y note plus the fruitiness. These can be found very easily and they are truly the leading note in this whisky. Overall a great introduction to the distillate of the distillery. Smooth, simple yet tasty. I rate this whisky 7.1/10. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.
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Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.
Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!
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