Glenrothes 11 Years Old 2008 Cask #19301 (Alambic Classique)

Alambic Classique's Special Vintage Selection presents single casks at natural strength under direct cask identification, with this miniature 50ml format suggesting a sample edition or limited release intended for tasting flights. This Glenrothes 11 Years Old, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2019 from cask 19301 at 64.7%, runs to 139 bottles released into the German market.

Eleven years in a single Oloroso cask at sustained 64.7% delivers concentrated cask interaction. The cask sat in lower humidity warehousing favouring water rather than alcohol evaporation, keeping the spirit at high strength. European oak's tannin contribution accumulates aggressively at this abv, while the cask's residual oxidised sherry combines with lignin's vanillin and syringaldehyde extractions. New wood notes signal the cask's active first fill chemistry, with hemicellulose furfural building in the background.

On the nose, coal gas sits with cooked vegetable depth and a fragrant lift, leathery undertones threading through alongside polished oak. Sherried sweetness emerges underneath with a new wood note signalling first fill activity. The palate runs concentrated at 64.7%: fig, raisin and dark chocolate, with European oak's grip pressing hard. Cocoa nib bitterness emerges mid palate. The finish is long and resinous, the cask in active extraction at full intensity.