The Glenrothes Masterclass: The Quiet Giant of Speyside
Bordeaux Index
26 June 2025
Last night, our Bordeaux Index Tasting Room played host to an exceptional evening of discovery, flavour, and history as we welcomed Georgia Porteous, Private Client Manager at The Glenrothes, to lead a guided masterclass through some of the most remarkable single malts in The Glenrothes portfolio.
Founded in 1879 in the heart of Speyside, The Glenrothes is celebrated for crafting rare, complex, and fruit-driven whiskies, known for their elegance and aging potential. Guests were treated to a journey across expressions, both timeless and modern, each dram revealing the layered artistry behind this increasingly sought-after distillery.
Georgia Porteous expertly walked us through four core expressions: The 15, The 18, The 25, and a surprise guest, the limited 32-Year-Old. From the rich, spiced orchard notes of the 15-Year-Old to the astonishing depth and old-world charm of the 32-Year-Old, each whisky told its own story of sherry cask influence and patient maturation.
Behind the Label: A Speyside Icon
The Glenrothes may reside in the quiet town of Rothes, but their legacy is anything but modest. Built by shareholders of The Macallan in 1878, the distillery historically supplied malt whisky for the legendary Cutty Sark blend, especially prized during America’s Prohibition era. Today, Glenrothes stands tall in its own right, admired for its fruit-forward spirit, robust enough to age gracefully in sherry-seasoned oak over decades.
Owned by Edrington - alongside Highland Park and The Macallan - The Glenrothes benefits from unparalleled expertise in sherry cask maturation, offering what many now call the “Holy Trinity” of premium Scotch.
The Glenrothes is no longer the Speyside secret it once was. With a growing reputation for delivering long-aged, sherry-matured whiskies at exceptional value, it now sits among the top-tier names in Scotch whisky. Last night’s tasting confirmed what many of us have long suspected - The Glenrothes is not just keeping pace with its famous neighbours. In many ways, it’s leading the charge.