Glenrothes 2008 Super Secret Speyside Little Brown Dog 17 Year Old 1st Fill Bourbon Cask Single Speyside Malt Whisky 56.5%
The 2008 Super Secret Speyside from Little Brown Dog is a 17‑year‑old single malt that showcases both the distillery’s classic Speyside elegance and LBD’s playful, transparent approach to independent bottling. At LBD, secrets have never been their style, which is why their “Secret Speyside” series has become an ongoing in‑joke: every release comes from a different distillery, and the name changes each time. This time they call it “Super Secret,” even though any whisky enthusiast will quickly realise it comes from a distillery that adds “Glen” to Rothes – and to remove any remaining doubt, LBD even geotagged the stillhouse coordinates on the label. Their way of saying: we’re having fun, but we’re not hiding anything.
The cask was filled in December 2008 and bottled in February 2026. It’s a 1st fill bourbon cask that LBD has owned for almost seven years. It was one of the very first casks they purchased as a company, and although it was never forgotten, it only “came home” recently. It turned out to be an exceptionally solid bourbon cask – so good that they decided to pair it with their “not‑secret” Speyside bottling as a kind of internal dialogue between two expressions. Only 222 bottles were released.
The whisky opens with a nose that is both rich and precise: warm notes of toasted brioche, blossom honey and a fresh, almost sorbet‑like fruitiness reminiscent of mango and citrus. The bourbon cask brings a clean, bright sweetness that lifts Glenrothes’ natural fruit profile without overpowering it. On the palate, the whisky unfolds with pink grapefruit, green herbs like cress and a deeper, spiced fruitiness reminiscent of plum chutney. The texture is oily and vibrant, carried by the 56.5%, which adds intensity without muting the nuances. The finish is long, soft and creamy with notes of white chocolate and lemon balm, adding an elegant freshness.
The label itself is a tribute. Andrew from LBD once spent a full day at the distillery with whisky legend Ronnie “Red Socks” Cox – a major figure in the industry who inspired the LBD team early in their whisky journey. Cox had no involvement in this bottling, but the whisky is intended as a respectful nod to a man who left a lasting impression on them.
Glenrothes 2008 Super Secret Speyside is therefore more than just a 17‑year‑old single malt. It is a piece of LBD history, a bourbon cask with personality, a playful wink at the whole “secret Speyside” tradition and a whisky that shows how beautifully a single bourbon cask can elevate a distillery already known for its fruity finesse. An intense, clean and deeply satisfying dram for both the whisky nerd and the Speyside lover who appreciates honesty in flavour.
Distillery: Glenrothes
Region: Speyside
Age: 17 years
Distilled: 03/12/2008
Bottled: 16/02/2026
Type: Single Cask
Bottles: 222
Strength: 56.5%
Cask type: 1st Fill Bourbon
70 cl
Un‑chillfiltered
Natural colour
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
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