Located in Morayshire, along the Burn of Rothes, a stream that flows down from the Mannoch Hills, the Glenrothes distillery has its own private spring near the Glen of Dounie, from which it draws the water needed for the various stages of processing.
The company also owns all the land surrounding this spring, called “The Lady’s Well” in honor of Marie Leslie, the only daughter of the Duke of Rothes who was killed near the stream in a fit of jealousy by her husband Alexander.
The latter, brother of Robert III, was also nicknamed “the Wolf of Bedeno”, due to his ferocious and violent character.
The distillery was founded in 1878 thanks to financing from the City of Glasgow Bank on the initiative of a group of local businessmen, but went bankrupt a few months later, while the buildings intended to house it were still under construction.
The company was saved thanks to the merger with Islay Distillery & Co. (already owner of Bunnahabhain Distillery) giving rise to Highland Distilleries Co. Ltd. The construction work was completed in 1887 and the partners appointed as distiller a certain James Booth Henderson, a cattle judge, who habitually used to stabling cattle and horses inside the distillery.
The owners of the animals were greatly disappointed when they found out. There is no doubt that the animals were excellently fed with the waste from the distillery's processing.
The economic problems certainly continued to persist and, to avoid the closure of the company, one of the owners, Robert Dick, pledged the factory in exchange for a loan of around 2,000 pounds from the Caledonian Bank; the sum was increased by a further loan of 600 pounds, granted by the minister of the local Presbyterian Church.
In the 1880s and 1890s, Glenrothes' financial situation improved due to the increased demand for whisky and all debts were paid off. This allowed the expansion of the distillery premises, which had already begun in 1896.
A memorable fire broke out in 1922; it is said that a significant quantity of malt spirit flowed from a burning warehouse directly into the Burn of Rothes.
According to contemporary reports, around 800,000 litres of distillate were lost.
Many stopped downstream of the river to taste that "scented" water!
The company was further expanded for the first time in 1963 and a second time in 1980, the year in which a large production capacity was reached, guaranteed by ten stills: five for the first distillation and five for the second.
The room that today houses these instruments is so large and high that it can be compared to the inside of a cathedral.
Although highly appreciated as a Single Malt, Glenrothes owes its fame to the fact that it is a prized component of excellent and famous Blendeds, such as the Famous Grouse and the Cutty Sark.

GLENROTHES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY MOSAICS COLLECTION DISTILLED 2009 BOTTLED 2024 MOON IMPORT

The Mosaics Collection 2024, the latest effort by Pepi Mongiardino, is made up of six different Whiskies united by a thematic label; in this case they are reproductions of ancient mosaics.
In this case we present a Glenrothes from barrel no. 4112, bottled in 2024.
Only 384 70 cl bottles produced at an alcohol content of 45% Vol.
The color is amber gold; on the nose it develops intense and round aromas, with hints of citrus, heather flowers, chocolate, coffee and Bourbon vanilla.
On the palate it is full-bodied and soft with hints of wood, orange peel, ginger and white peach..
The finish is sweetly spicy.