SPEYSIDE IN A GLASS

COOPERAGE

Glenrothes is one of the few distilleries to still have an in-house cooperage with coopers who treat, dismantle and reassemble around 6,000 casks a year, most of which have obviously previously contained Sherry wine.

Each barrel has its own history and unique destiny, and it is up to the sensitivity of the men to understand when to replace a barrel head or a stave, or simply to retire an exhausted Butt after years of honourable service.

This type of activity is now outsourced by almost all distilleries, which rely on large cask treatment centres and in this way optimise resources. However, cooperage ownership adds quality to the work of a distillery as historic as Glenrothes, as well as keeping alive a centuries-old know-how.

SHERRY CASK

The Glenrothes distillery has always intended the distillate that would become a Single Malt to be matured mainly in ex-Sherry casks. However, traditional Solera casks have now become a rare commodity, leading the Scottish distilleries to "condition" new casks in Spain, often made of American, French or European oak.

An exception to this method is Glenrothes, which is still able to source Galician oak casks through an agreement with Toneleria Tevasa, which has become uncommon due to national restrictions on the cutting of Spanish oak. These casks are a perfect match for a malty, angular distillate like Glenrothes, enriching it with vinous notes and subtle tannins.