Whisky review: The Glenrothes 1972 32 Year

The Glenrothes (prononced glen-ROTH-ess) is a Speyside distillery that is known for making vintage whiskies (instead of using age statements). Finding this particular vintage today is quite difficult; this bottle was given to me by a collector friend as a wedding gift, and it was a good gift indeed.

The Glenrothes 1972 Vintage 32 Year Old, 43% ABV
Single malt Scotch whisky (Speyside)

Appearance: Red-tan.

Nose: Spices (cinnamon especially), juicy fruits (red apples, oranges, pears), and sherry.

Palate: Fruity, sweet candy. Banana and light leather.

Finish: Some wood and spices lull me into never-never land.

Rating (of 100): 90. Just a great, old whisky that is sweet but not cloying and is packed with elegance. Perhaps a bit thin on the palate, though, which might be helped by bottling at a higher alcohol content. As if they're going to take my advice on a whisky that's no longer produced.

Whisky review: Highland Park 18

The Highland Park distillery is located on the Orkney Islands, off the northern tip of Scotland, and is the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland. Highland Park is known for its use of Orkney's peat, a version that tends to be more laden with heather roots than that found on Islay; this difference is evident in the resulting whisky.

Highland Park 18, 43% ABV
Single malt Scotch whisky (Islands)

Appearance: Reddish amber.

Nose: Honey, peat, wood, sherry, grass. Buttery and seductive, like a woman in a dream I once had. A definite beauty.

Palate: Great integration of wood, sherry, and light peat. Fruits and flowers abound, with some dark brooding qualities in the background. Fantastic.

Finish: An excellent grip on the way down; makes me want more. And I shall have it.

Rating (of 100): 95. One of the greats! I hear they've recently come out with a 50-year-old. I bet that's reasonably priced and easily accessible.

First-ever event announcement!

Announcing

The first-ever Ivy+ Fine Spirits Showcase, an afternoon in downtown Boston where attendees can taste from an array of over 200 fine distilled spirits, including single malt Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, cognac, armagnac, tequila, rum, and more!

This is a private event for the students, alumni, faculty, and postdocs of the Ivy League universities plus MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago. The event is being held at Royale in Boston's Theater District on Saturday, February 26th, 2011, 2:00-6:00pm. Tickets are $39/person, with a $5 discount for students - an event like this in Boston normally costs $100+ per person!

Spirits list, more information, and tickets are now available at this website. Spread the word to your Ivy+ friends!