The Glenrothes press luncheon held The Parish LA —a quaint gastropub in the V-shaped wedge of the converging Spring and Main streets in downtown Los Angeles—was a homage to The Glenrothes forthcoming 1998, 1988, and 1978 vintage whiskys.
Established in 1879, The Glenrothes has long been revered as an award-winning whiskey brand, with only 2% of the annual production becoming The Glenrothes single malt scotch whisky. The company is known for their vintage brands, which are borne from carefully selected casks at the peak of maturation.
We started the afternoon with a Scotch Lace, a reinvention of the whisky sour using the Select Reserve. With a hint of tart, the drink invigorated the senses with a bite of lemon in preparation for the tasting ahead.
After mingling with one another, we were asked to seat ourselves in small groups on plush chairs in a small but elegant upstairs dining area where the chatter slowly dimmed as Ronnie Cox, Global Brands Heritage Director for The Glenrothes, led a discussion on the moods and complex flavors of the vintage whiskeys.
Served with beets mache herbs over molasses yogurt; grilled corn with honeycomb butter; butter lettuce; and a wood-grilled bone marrow with celery salad, the ‘98 was complemented by a small helping of fats to be followed by the sweet corn and lightness of the butter corn and molasses yogurt.
On its heels was The Glenrothes 1988, a bright gold whiskey with a hint of slice orange peel in its fruit compote flavor. It was served with delicately cooked clams in a light sherry dressing with salumi picante, leeks, and peas. A crunchy fried chicken with grilled peaches and a currant vinaigrette rounded out the flavors of the long, medium-sweet finish of the ‘98.
Representing the pinnacle of the 1970s, the highly cherished Glenrothes ‘78 is crafted from the finest malted barley and Highland spring water. Bottled in January 2008, it is comprised of a small selection of casks handpicked by Malt Master John Ramsay. Packaged in a copper and oak frame to reflect its maturation and distillation, The Glenrothes 1978 is a classy, top-shelf whisky. It will be released in September in a limited run.
You can find The Glenrothes at fine liquor retailers, restaurants, and bars nationwide. In Los Angeles, you can find them at The Parish, Seven Grand, The Rosewood, and Eveleigh. For those looking to take a bottle home, check out your local BevMo in the coming weeks.