Glenrothes 12 Year Old Whisky

The Glenrothes 12 Year Old is a graceful Speyside single malt matured only in sherry-seasoned oak and bottled at natural colour. At 40% ABV, it presents the distillery’s celebrated ‘House Style’—silky, fruit-led and gently spiced—making a refined everyday luxury for collectors and an effortlessly elegant gift for any whisky lover.

Tasting Notes & Experience

Fragrant notes of banana and vanilla unfurl into lemon zest and ripe melon, brushed with butterscotch and a hint of cinnamon. The palate is plush and honeyed, layering baked orchard fruit with creamy toffee and softly toasted oak. A long, sweet finish glides on gala melon and delicate spice, leaving a poised, warming glow.

Key Details

• Producer: The Glenrothes Distillery
• Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Region: Speyside, Scotland
• ABV: 40%
• Volume: 700ml
• Maturation: Exclusively in sherry-seasoned oak casks; bottled at natural colour
• Serve: Neat or with a splash of water; superb as a highball or classic sour

Cocktail Pairings

Its fruit-forward elegance shines in a Whisky Sour (egg-white optional) and lends depth to an Old Fashioned where orange oils lift the sherried sweetness. Try a Rob Roy for a suave, spirit-forward serve, or a tall Highball with chilled soda for crystalline refreshment. For a signature twist, a Marmalade Sour amplifies citrus, while a soothing Hot Toddy flatters its honeyed spice.

Craftsmanship & Story

Founded in 1879 in the town of Rothes, The Glenrothes is famed for slow distillation and a devotion to wood and time. This 12-year-old sits within the sherry-inspired tradition of the house, drawing exclusively on seasoned casks to build layers of vanilla, fruit and gentle spice. Bottled at natural colour, it captures the distillery’s understated luxury and quietly confident Speyside style.

Special Features

Single-origin maturation in sherry-seasoned oak gives this whisky its silken texture and orchard-fruit richness, while natural colour underscores a minimal-intervention philosophy. At 40% ABV, it is exceptionally approachable yet characterful—versatile enough for elevated cocktails, refined enough for contemplative sipping, and polished enough to sit beautifully in any gift selection.

Recognition & Accolades

Acclaimed for its refined Speyside style and consistent quality:

• 95/100 Points – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2019
• 93/100 Points – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2018
• 5 Stars & Highest Recommendation – F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, 2018
• 92/100 Points – Falstaff
• Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2017
• Gold Medal – The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business), 2016
• Excellent, Highly Recommended – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2022
• Top Speyside Value Pick – Whisky Advocate

These honours affirm The Glenrothes 12 as a quintessential Speyside malt—elegant, balanced and admired by critics worldwide.

Food Pairing

Roast chicken with lemon and thyme; glazed ham with cloves; seared scallops in brown butter; aged Gouda or Manchego; almond cake or crème caramel. The whisky’s banana-vanilla sweetness, citrus brightness and gentle spice knit seamlessly with buttery textures, toasted nuts and caramelised desserts.

Perfect for Gifting or Sipping

A beautifully presented, naturally coloured Speyside classic—ideal for birthdays, client thank-yous and curated tastings, or as a graceful house dram that never fails to impress.

Fast, Secure NZ-Wide Delivery

Order online for fast NZ delivery. Lovingly packed with a selection of stylish packaging and a personal message option to complete the perfect gift.