Whisky Focus - The MacPhail's Collection Glenrothes 8 Years Old Review

Review of The MacPhail's Collection Glenrothes 8 Year Old.

In general the Glenrothes distillery in Speyside produces a sweet rich fruity style of single malt. Rated a First Class malt by blenders but sadly original distillery bottlings in recent years have less than impressed me, such as their travel retail sulphur tainted Glenrothes Manse Reserve and Elder's Reserve, a couple of very poor whiskies but this was down to cask selection.

I know the distillery can produce some very good whisky, the excellent third bottle in the original distillery travel retail series, the Minister's Reserve, is evidence of that.

Like any whisky wood selection is key to producing a good whisky and Gordon & MacPhail have been keen to highlight this in recent months with their ‘The Wood Makes the Whisky’ campaign, so lets see how their MacPhail's Collection Glenrothes 8 Years Old which was matured in a combination of Refill Sherry Hogsheads and Refill Bourbon Barrels and bottled at 43% ABV has turned out.

William Morrison's Tasting Notes:

Nose:  Honey, vanilla and blood oranges.

Taste: Sweet silky smooth delivery of mouth coating vanilla tablet and honey, the sweetness is soon balanced by a marmalade bitterness.

Finish: A medium length finish, the marmalade has developed into milk chocolate raisins, the bitterness wins the battle with the sweetness before fading away, a little lingering drying oak spice after a few mouthfuls.

Comment: Not the most complex whisky but it isn't going to be at 8 year old but for the price you will pay for this and the fact you know what age you are paying for then this whisky is well worth its price tag unlike some of the no age statement Glenrothes whiskies I mentioned above. Fans of whiskies such as the Macallan Gold will enjoy this and I would bet it is around the same age. A decent enough example of what I expect from the Glenrothes distillery.

SMW Score 81/100

You can find the full current MacPhail's Collection whisky range available from specialist Whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange

Other Gordon & MacPhail whiskies you may want to try:

• Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt Macallan 2006
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Speyburn 1991
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels Ardmore 1996
   
• The MacPhail's Collection Bunnahabhain 8 Years Old
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954

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