The Four Corners
The foundations of The Glenrothes single malt
Discover the values that have guided us from the beginning. As they surround us and sustain everything we do, we call them our Four Corners.
Quietly and without compromise, The Glenrothes distillery has been producing some of Speyside’s finest single malt for more than a century. What began in 1879 continues in much the same way to this day: the making of a no-nonsense, finely crafted single malt. A whisky made with integrity, authenticity and, above all, with expert craft.
Water: the five sources
At The Glenrothes we owe an important debt to nature. The pure spring waters that surround us are the foundation of our spirit and the local streams that run through our estate are essential for cooling and maintenance of our production processes.
We call it ‘Uisge Beatha’, our water of life. Every dram carries the precious legacy of this elemental liquid and because we know exactly where our water comes from, we can ensure that every single drop contributes to the impeccable character of our whisky.


Slow distillation
Our new make spirit is carefully nurtured in our tall copper stills at the distillery for longer than usual, which helps to produce a lighter, fruitier spirit that forms the signature style of The Glenrothes single malt.
Slower distillation eliminates more impurities, allowing for the production of a more delicately flavoured spirit while the taller necks of our distinctive copper stills allow the alcohol to rise and mellow out further, providing the perfect foundation for our award-winning single malt.
Sherry seasoned casks: the essence of The Glenrothes
Sherry seasoning brings a unique depth of flavour to the maturation process. That’s why the majority of The Glenrothes is matured in sherry seasoned oak casks, carefully produced to our exacting standards from near Jerez, Spain. These casks are all assessed and repaired at our own in-house cooperage, using time-honoured methods.
Our commitment to the most sought after sherry casks is driven by the knowledge that to make the best whisky, only the best wood will do.


Natural colour
A great single malt should be enjoyed with all the senses. That’s why we always maintain the natural cask colour of our whisky.