Glenrothes 51YO

The Glenrothes' oldest whisky to date, drawn from just two casks and limited to 100 bottles. One is delicate and deeply perfumed, the other richer and bolder with nutty, woody depth; the whisky is what the two make together. The house calls it the orchid of its collection, after the wild orchids on its Speyside estate, and the packaging follows that idea to its conclusion — the bottle is sealed inside a casing that has to be broken open with the hammer supplied.

The Glenrothes' tasting notes: watermelon, peach stones and fresh almonds on the nose, with rose oil, bergamot and black tea leaves over sandalwood; ripe melon, rose water and earl grey on the palate, with a hint of antique oak; a fragrant finish, soft and velvety.