Glenrothes Whisky Tasting at Vino Vino Bistro,Penang
BY CK Lam
Over the past weeks, a group of whisky enthusiasts gathered at Vino Vino Bistro for The Glenrothes Whisky Tasting. The event featured four different Glenrothes Single Malt Whisky, packaged in beautiful short and stout bottles.
Produced at the Glenrothes distillery in the village of Rothes, Speyside, the maturity of the whisky is determined not by age, but by vintage. The single malt whisky comes in either 18, 16 or 12, according to Peter Lau, vintage consultant for Glenrothes.
First we tasted the Glenrothes Select Reserve. Peter had everyone rotating the glass to get the whisky to coat the wall of the glass. “Look out for the whisky “legs” which can be seen running down the side of the glass. The slower the legs run, the older is the whisky,” said Peter. The Glenrothes Select Reserve with a slightly spicy finish was laden with citrus, dried fruits, vanilla and hints of spices.
The Second bottle was the Glenrothes 1998 (43%), bottled in 2012. Peter recommended adding some water to help unlock the different aromas of this 14 year old single malt whisky. We experience a smooth and long finish, and the palate fruity with notes of lemon citrus, sweet vanilla and cinnamon.
The third pour was the Glenrothes 1995 (43%), bottled in 2012 with aroma of soft fruit flavor and good hint of spiciness. This mature 17 year old with clear and bright appearance has mellowness mouthfeel and a rich finish. Of all the whiskies, this was our favorite.
The evening ended with an extra special tasting opportunity – vintage 1988. Maturing for more than two decades in a combination of Spanish and American oak; previously seasoned with both sherry and whisky, this rare breed was never before bottled.
This vintage allows us to experience a rich fruity bouquet, full flavor fruity palate and a long medium sweet finish.
It was an interesting and enjoyable experience to sample the whiskies. The whiskies were paired with yakitori creations prepared with light seasoning – Bonjiri, Tebasaki, Sunagimo, Lamb Yaki alongside Eringi and Okur.
Vino Vino Bistro
Block H-10-3
Lorong Bayan Indah 2
Bay Avenue
11900 Bayan Lepas
Penang
Tel: 04 6451188
Business Hour:
Monday to Saturday – 12noon to 1am
Sunday – 5pm to 1am
* Many thanks to Vino Vino Bistro for extending this invitation.