Glenrothes 20 Years Old Antique Lions of Spirits The Butterflies 57% 1997

Professional reviews

BOW (88)

Serge Valentin (83)

Colour: amber. Nose: this one’s rather rounder, with more honey and raisins. A more civilised version of the one for Sweden, if you like. Whiffs of stewed strawberries, perhaps. With water: these earthy smells once again, moss, tobacco, cocoa, even a little menthol… The roundness went away. Mouth (neat): rich, rather sweet again. Some kind of peppered orange liqueur with an earthier background (our beloved gentian eau-de-vie), plus some mead and sweet white wine. Perhaps proper PX? With water: pepper up big time. Finish: long, peppery, dry, with some coffee and almost a saltiness. Comments: a very good malt that goes from sweet(ish) to very dry.

OTHER (87)

whiskynotes.be:

Nose: better, with more balance and less dirty notes. More barley notes, baked apples and classic oranges, a little brioche and hazelnut praline. Whiffs of wet gravel, nice leafy notes and tree bark. Hints of vanilla, cinnamon and dark bread. More layered and refined. Mouth: autumnal profile again, but balanced. Light tobacco, ginger, hints of marmalade and apples. Nutty notes. Mint and some dry leafy notes. Finish: medium long, fairly dry, on nuts and soft herbs.
The most complex, refined Glenrothes of this trio and my favourite. Autumnal sherry influence without overdoing it. Good