A cannabis farm worth £94,000 has been discovered in a Glenrothes house Police found more than 150 cannabis plants within a property on Ivanhoe Drive during a raid on Monday The force says it is still trying to find those involved Sergeant Codi Maton said: “We are all aware of the detrimental impact drugs have on our communities and this operation highlights our commitment to dealing with those involved in illegal activity “The public has a vital part to play and I would encourage them to continue to provide us with information Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Some cookies used are essential to providing a service while others help us improve your experience and provide us with insights into how the site is being used For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookies page Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security You may disable these by changing your browser settings but this may affect how the website functions We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone For more information on how these cookies work We'd like to allow Social Media cookies to provide a richer experience These cookies will allow us the ability to list Fife Council tweets and Facebook posts audio clips & Videos on some of our pages Our videos use Youtube's privacy-enhanced mode These cookies allow us to show relevant adverts to the content you are viewing They also provide the ability to deliver targeted online advertising across other platforms like Facebook News Centre Fife Council has declared the result of the Glenrothes Central and Thornton by election Lynda Holton has been elected to represent Fife Council in Ward 15 Votes were cast for each candidate as follows: Maciej DOKURNO  Scottish Labour Party - 649 Lynda HOLTON  Scottish National Party (SNP) – 1,439 Fiona LESLIE  Scottish Conservative and Unionist - 185 Ed SCOTCHER  Scottish Liberal Democrats - 207 The by election has been held following the sad death of Councillor Ross Vettraino OBE (Scottish National Party) Contact us Make a complaint Site map Social Media Accessibility Cookies Policy Julie Sheppard joined the Decanter team in 2018 and is Regional Editor for Australia New Zealand and South Africa & Spirits Editor she worked for a range of drinks and food titles including as managing editor of both Imbibe and Square Meal associate publisher of The Drinks Business senior editor of the Octopus Publishing Group and Supplements editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit she has over 20 years\u2019 experience writing about food drink and travel for a wide range of publications Time Out and national newspapers including The Telegraph and The Sunday Times Speyside producer The Glenrothes has unveiled The 51 its oldest-ever release since the distillery was founded in 1879 the release is limited to just 100 bottles globally buyers will not be able to see the bottle they are purchasing This means The 51 is the first whisky in the world that can only be accessed by destroying its packaging Buyers will have to smash the outer casing with a hammer provided the smashed fragments of the column can be sent to a local kintsugi artist Kintsugi – literally translated as ‘golden repair’ – is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer dusted with powdered gold will create a bespoke and lasting piece of art unique to each buyer ‘Jesmonite was chosen for the outer casing as it breaks cleanly,’ explained Wendy Espie so everyone will have a unique experience,’ she added The whisky itself has been blended from two casks chosen by Laura Rampling The Glenrothes Master Whisky Maker (above) One remnant cask from a previous vatting provides richness and depth while the other single cask offers balancing lightness with what Rampling describes as ‘extremely ethereal and perfumed’ notes ‘The 51 is a testament to those rare moments in whisky making when patience This whisky defies expectations – elegant yet powerful it offers a singular experience for those who truly understand and appreciate rarity,’ she said Showing all the hallmarks of The Glenrothes’ signature softness The 51 is an elegant dram boasting florist shop aromas with exotic hints of sandalwood and bergamot Tasting surprisingly vibrant and sprightly for a whisky of this age the expressive palate unfurls with layers of flavour: tropical fruit the whisky market has overwhelmed collectors with ultra-premium whiskies at extremely high price points making collectors less likely to open their bottles ‘Collectors are looking to be incentivised to drink their whiskies and herein lies a great new approach to this very problem The 51 is for the true lovers of whisky; those who interact The 51 will be available at select whisky specialists such as Sotheby’s boutique whisky shops and luxury retailers including Harrods Edrington-owned The Glenrothes has unveiled its oldest whisky to date – a 51-year-old single malt that can only be accessed by destroying its packaging with a custom hammer The whisky, called The 51, is described as the brand’s ‘most daring’ release yet, and celebrates the ‘strength in fragility’ that is found in both the ‘exceptionally soft water’ used in the distillation and dilution process as well as the wild orchids that grow on the brand’s Speyside estate The 51 is said to present a complexity and vibrancy that is ‘rarely found’ in whiskies of this age While one cask delivers deeply perfumed notes that ‘evoke the fragility of an orchid’s scent’ the other offers ‘luxurious’ richness and depth is described as a rare and fragrant wonder and ‘the orchid of The Glenrothes collection’ “The 51 is a testament to those rare moments in whisky making when patience and craft align perfectly,” said Laura Rampling “This whisky defies expectations – elegant yet powerful it offers a singular experience for those who truly understand and appreciate rarity much like the orchids that bloom year after year on our estate We are thrilled to share this extraordinary and exclusive release with the world.” Just as orchids are uniquely designed to attract a single pollinator the packaging of The 51 is crafted to be entirely unique to its owner In what is described as a ‘daring’ evolution of the luxury whisky experience and as such is the first whisky in the world that can be accessed only by destroying its packaging: smashing the column with a hammer provided each column breaking in its own unique way The ‘orchid’ hidden inside is a prize reserved ‘exclusively for those who dare to discover’ the owner is then invited to return the fragments of the column to The Glenrothes where a Kintsugi artist will restore them with precious metal transforming the remains into a one-of-a-kind vase in which a real orchid can grow creating a lasting piece of art that is unique and theirs alone Jonny Fowle highlighted the unique appeal of The 51: “In the past few years Collectors are looking to be incentivised to drink their whiskies “The 51 is for the true lovers of whisky; those who interact Fowle said he found tropical fruit characteristics that are bright and expressive with a vitality that is rare to find in a whisky of such an age “It’s simultaneously energetic and sophisticated — this reflects The Glenrothes distillery’s ability to age with each layer of flavour playing its own discrete role but with perfect integration There have been some whiskies to achieve this all of which are hailed with legendary status by collectors.” succulent watermelon and the perfumed scent of peach kernels and fresh almonds can be found The finish finds a velvety sweetness that is preceded by a lingering nutty quality It is available through select whisky specialists such as Sotheby’s We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Police are hunting a driver after a 14-year-old girl was injured in a Glenrothes hit-and-run Officers have launched an appeal after the pedestrian was hit by a Mini on Rothes Road near the junction with Napier Road on March 18 The driver of the dark-coloured Mini failed to stop at the scene and drove off towards the Leslie Road roundabout and the town centre Police believe the mini had a white checkered roof The girl was taken to the hospital for treatment and later released Constable Steven McKenna said: “Our inquiries are ongoing to trace the driver and I am appealing for them to come forward along with anyone who has information that could assist “I am also asking anyone driving in the area at the time to check if they have dashcam footage that could help with our investigation.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 Local residents and visitors alike will be able to celebrate the transformation of Glenrothes’ Riverside Park this Saturday thanks to a special ‘Picnic in the Park’ event People are being invited to head along from 10am to 3pm and enjoy the new facilities first hand to kick off the Easter holidays in style with a wide range of stalls and activities laid on throughout the day we encourage attendees to enjoy the Spring sunshine and walk or cycle to the park if they can parking spaces at Riverside Park will be limited Additional parking will be available at Fife House to accommodate visitors become the ‘jewel in the crown’ of parks that we always knew it could become “After 13 years of volunteering and campaigning with Friends of Riverside Park to make the park better for the whole community it is heartwarming for us to see the park flourish.” and soak up the atmosphere while exploring everything the park has to offer Everyone involved in the project has been disappointed to see some instances of vandalism before the park was reopened but Mr Cooper is determined to ensure such behaviour does not overshadow what is a hugely positive time for the town “It is up to the whole community to value the park and look after it,” he added “We urge all parents and guardian to talk to their children about this and hope that a ‘respect and protect the park’ attitude will develop in them as they enjoy the park “We hope anyone witnessing wilful damage or anti-social behaviour in the park will report it to the police.” The Glenwood Centre was demolished in July 2023 after a long process that began with the 2017 Golden Glenrothes Charette outlining the community’s vision for regeneration We started buying back the site’s properties and applied for a Compulsory Purchase Order the whole process was delayed by the pandemic The cleared site is now grassed over while we along with Kingdom Housing Association and Sinclair Watt Architects These include four blocks of flats (around 44 properties) Kingdom’s properties will be for those aged 55+ and our Retirement Housing properties will be for those aged 60+ flats are more economically viable than houses or bungalows with part reserved as a lounge for Retirement Housing tenants and the rest for public use Community consultations took place in late 2023 and early 2024. Feedback was used to create a Q&A featured in the latest Let's talk about Macedonia area newsletter We are developing a joint Housing and Greenspace Management Plan with Kingdom Housing to support all tenants This will go to the Glenrothes Area Committee for approval Landlords: Fife Council and Kingdom Housing How to apply for these properties: These properties will be allocated from the Fife Housing Register Two Glenrothes police officers are being hailed as heroes after saving the life of a man found unresponsive and without a pulse were on a routine patrol in the town centre at around 10am on Tuesday April 8 when the emergency unfolded The pair were called to assist shopworkers and Kingdom Shopping Centre staff after a man was found collapsed in a warehouse The stricken 22-year-old man had suffered a cardiac arrest and was both unconscious and found with no pulse As well as using a defibrillator machine, the two officers took turns to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – a life-saving emergency procedure used when someone’s heart has stopped beating or they are not breathing the officers battled desperately to revive the man while they waited for paramedics The pair worked on the unconscious man for more than 10 minutes while also using the defibrillator on two occasions PC Irvine told The Courier it was obvious on arrival that the man was in danger of losing his life if they didn’t act immediately “We instantly knew that he was in a bad way as there was no pulse or breathing,” said PC Irvine “The training that all police officers are given to act on in such an emergency automatically kicked in and we started to administer CPR “We were desperately trying to keep everyone around him as calm as possible while at the same time continuing with the chest compressions you don’t realise until afterwards how energy-sapping administering CPR can be “I’ve had to give CPR on several occasions during my police career “The paramedics eventually arrived and took over “It was only afterwards that we were told that our response had almost certainly saved the man’s life PC Reynolds said it had been the quick actions of everyone involved that had combined to save the man’s life “There was little or no time to actually think about the seriousness of the situation as the training automatically kicked in,” she said “It’s the first time I’ve had to carry out CPR in a real-life emergency situation “To be told afterwards that your actions saved the man’s life is a good feeling.” The pair have been hailed as heroes by police chiefs said: “Jordan and David should be rightly proud of what they did for the man “It’s the sort of officer response that the public seldom gets to hear about “They deserve all the credit for handling so calmly what undoubtedly was a highly stressful and desperate situation.” Glenrothes Sergeant Martyn Reidie echoed CS McEwan’s praise adding that the pair had continued with their shift as if nothing untoward had happened “It’s a testament to Jordan and David’s professionalism and dedication to their job the pair simply returned to the station to have their lunch “They certainly are heroes and deserve all the praise they get.” Drivers are being made aware that Leslie Road in Glenrothes is due to be closed every evening from 10pm to 6am the next morning from 1st to 6th December The closures will allow our team to safely carry out the installation of a new Toucan Crossing on the road the road will be closed to all traffic from junction B969 to the RothesRoundabout The work is expected to take place every night from Sunday 1st December until 6am on Friday 6th December but may finish sooner than this The alternative route for all road traffic is via Rothes Road Emergency service vehicles should follow the diversion. Access for pedestrians will be maintained The work is being carried out by Fife Council Roads Design & Build and they can be contacted on 03451 555555 extension 480080 For emergencies outside our usual working hours Come along to the Rothes Halls on Wednesday 23rd April between 10.30am-2.30pm and find out about the Free Adult Learning Opportunities that are happening in Glenrothes Browse the marketplace or take part in our fun informal workshops which will include arts and crafts If you'd like more information, get in touch with Auchmuty Learning Centre by emailing comdevglen@fife.gov.uk or calling 01592 583474 A new year means a new look Riverside Park in Glenrothes and work on several fronts is continuing over the next few months Almost £5 million was secured from the UK Government to turn what many may have once considered an under-used asset into a key destination for locals and visitors alike as you’ll have experienced if you’ve recently visited and contractors remain on track to complete the park’s transformation by the end of March this year A new £1m savannah-themed adventure playpark is taking shape nicely and work has started this week on a new 120m x 60m pump cycling track which will be fully accessible and capable of hosting international competitions Major pathway regeneration works have been carried out to not only build new routes but upgrade existing paths to provide better connections in and around the park; car parks have been resurfaced and extended; new toilets are in the pipeline; and the pond has been completely rejuvenated following extensive dredging and land maintenance The planned programme of work will continue this month on both sides of the park with staircase improvements pencilled in for Riverside Park West over the next few weeks Work to enhance the B969 River Leven Bridge is also expected to start the week beginning January 21 and temporary traffic lights will be in operation in addition to the playpark and pump track projects the car park extension has started and will continue right through to the end of March – meaning it will be closed whilst work is ongoing Drainage and path works will also be carried out in certain areas said: “2025 will be a massive year for the town and we can’t wait to see the plans for Riverside Park come to fruition which will be accessible to children of all ages and abilities and that’s even before the giant hippo equipment is installed to reflect the town’s long-standing association with them “We’d like to thank members of the public for their continued patience as work around the park continues and I think we’re all looking forward to the revamped Riverside Park being fully open in the Spring.” work is ongoing behind the scenes to introduce new activities to Riverside Park while more than 4,000 trees and 300,000 bulbs are being planted as part of the environmental enhancements in the area the planned work programme is dependent on weather conditions and further updates will be provided as/when necessary Morrisons has hit out at Sainsbury’s plans to open a new supermarket in Glenrothes Sainsbury’s unveiled plans to open a new store in Glenrothes after striking a deal to take over the town’s Homebase store last year. The DIY and gardening outlet at Saltire Retail Park closed in February Plans to convert the unit into a supermarket with an Argos outlet were submitted in December which is in the process of acquiring the Kingdom Shopping Centre which operates a store off the town’s Queensway is “concerned about any development proposals that may weaken the town centre” according to documents lodged with Fife Council Morrisons also argues that there are other sites that could be assessed for a potential Sainsbury’s supermarket which is redeveloping Albany Gate as a “new anchor” for the Kingdom Shopping Centre Its vision for the shopping centre includes securing a “big four grocery operator such as Sainsbury’s or Tesco” which is “essential to the viability” of the scheme The objection adds: “If Sainsbury’s were to open a foodstore at the Saltire Retail Park the potential regeneration of the town centre will be directly prejudiced.” Sainsbury’s argues the impact on Glenrothes town centre will be “low” It says the plans will not have a “significant adverse impact” on the town centre Sainsbury’s also says the former Co-op building on Albany Gate is unsuitable in terms of “availability the planning statement acknowledges that the impact on out-of-centre stores will be higher with projections showing that Morrisons will be the most affected The deadline for making a decision on the Sainsbury’s plans has been pushed back to May 14 after Fife Council requested more time What do you think of the plans for the Glenrothes Sainsbury’s First Minister John Swinney was delighted on Friday morning as he discovered the SNP had pulled of its best performance in 20 months in a Fife Council by-election SNP candidate Lynda Holton secured more than twice the votes of her next closest rival – Labour’s Maciej Dokurno – in the Glenrothes Central and Thornton contest The Scottish Conservatives languished in fifth place with just over 100 votes behind Reform UK and the Scottish Liberal Democrats The council ward makes up a large part of the seat Labour won at the general election last summer so the SNP were keen to show they could win back support “It’s an outstanding result,” he said “There’s no other way to describe it It is just about where we were in 2022 when the SNP was doing really well “It’s the strongest SNP by-election performance for at least 20 months which is an indication of a real strengthening of the SNP’s electoral position.” It is a boost for the SNP as the campaign for a high-profile Holyrood by-election in June ramps up The contest was called after the death of incumbent SNP MSP Christina McKelvie Labour leader Anas Sarwar was in the Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency to kickstart his effort on Friday Nigel Farage’s Reform party also hopes to keep the pressure on in as he tests the public mood before a push to enter the Scottish Parliament next spring Mr Swinney had another reason to be cheerful after a UK business awards event in Edinburgh on Thursday evening An auction where Mr Swinney offered his services for a morning caused a bidding war to break out The eventual winner shelled out over £20,000 Another offer – where the winner could host a dinner party with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes – sold for “a lot less” Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay might be feeling even less optimistic today His party was pushed into third place in Glenrothes at last year’s general election Reform UK’s Ian Smith came third securing 541 votes nearly three times as many votes as the Conservatives and only 100 votes behind Scottish Labour It seems the rise of the Reform UK – largely at the expense of Mr Findlay’s party – is unstoppable Ian Smith – the party’s candidate – said he was “thrilled” He told The Courier: “We showed that there’s a real appetite for change here in Glenrothes Central and Thornton people told me they’re tired of being let down by the same old parties — and our result proves they’re ready to back a fresh alternative.” A Scottish Enterprise office in Glenrothes has been targeted by Pro-Palestine protestors Palestine Action has taken responsibility for the vandalism with the Scottish Enterprise office in Edinburgh and its Glasgow headquarters also targeted The group posted a video on X that showed protestors spraying red paint onto the side of the agency’s Glenrothes office In a separate post, Palestine Action claimed Scottish Enterprise had given money to weapon manufacturers It said: “The Scottish government business-granting body has given over £10 million of public money to Leonardo and Thales manufacturers of weaponry for the Israeli military.” Messages were also written on the side of the Glenrothes office block These included “Stop killing kids” and “Scottish Enterprise – Blood on your hands” There were also claims that the agency “funds genocide” The Enterprise Building on the Greenmarket in Dundee was also targeted overnight Scottish Enterprise left these premises in 2021 The Dundee building is currently occupied by Social Security Scotland The Ferret previously revealed Scottish Enterprise had funded arms firms that sold weapons to Israel A Scottish Enterprise spokesperson said: “Our immediate priority is to make our offices safe and secure for our colleagues and customers “We’ve reported these serious incidents to Police Scotland none of the projects we support involve the manufacture of munitions or weaponry.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “An investigation is under way following a vandalism at business premises in Pentland Park “The incident was reported to police this morning “Enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.” Palestine Action has been approached for comment Master whisky maker Laura Rampling says the new addition to the Glenrothes' range is a "marriage of the delicate and the bold" The new release has spent its 15 years of maturation in European oak sherry seasoned casks which the distillery says results in a flavour profile of "bright commented: “Whilst the Glenrothes spirit is inherently delicate in style it does not get overwhelmed by the bolder flavours created by maturation in first-fill European oak casks It is this precise and counterintuitive marriage of the delicate and the bold which makes this 15-year-old whisky unique bringing sweet fruit and bright spice together in a deliciously unexpected way.” The Glenrothes' oak casks are custom-made and seasoned in Spain and are the source of 100 per cent of the colour of the 15 Years Old as is the distillery's approach for its entire portfolio Tasting notes by the distillery highlight flavours of baking spice The Glenrothes The 15 (43% ABV) will be available to purchase from the Glenrothes and select retailers at RRP £100 paragraph publishing ltd.   Copyright © 2025 all rights reserved.   Website by Acora One Voters in Glenrothes Central and Thornton will choose between five candidates on Thursday in a Fife by-election called after the death of veteran SNP politician Ross Vettraino But who are they and what do they stand for We spoke to each of them to help you make up your minds before polling stations open at 7am Labour hopeful Maciej Dokurno hopes he can pull off an upset And having previously worked for Fife Council for 19 years he says this experience will help him to “get stuff done” Mr Dokurno says he fell in love with Glenrothes in 1994 after visiting his uncle He then decided to move here from his native Poland in 2003 Asked what his main pledges were to locals, Mr Dokurno lists tackling anti-social behaviour – including the use of illegal dirt bikes – and increasing the number of employment and educational opportunities for young people Mr Dokurno also says wants to focus on improving access to health services and tackling the housing crisis He added: “Being a councillor is about representing local people it’s about advocating for the community and spending time talking to people and finding solutions That’s what I’m determined to do.” SNP candidate Lynda Holton wants to convince Glenrothes voters to stick with her party after a Labour upset in the town at the general election Ms Holton grew up in Glenrothes and has worked for SNP politicians, including former local MP Peter Grant She says this experience – which includes helping constituents deal with problems – would help her support locals Ms Holton says a particular focus is protecting local services like early education and childcare She also raised anti-social behaviour as a particular issue raised by locals as she campaigns “I want to be able to help improve the community – the community I grew up in,” Ms Holton said “My extensive experience of handling resident’s enquiries would make a very experienced councillor I show up – I’ve already attended the meetings of all three community councils in the area “I will be an available and accessible councillor I am not making empty promises on things that are outwith the remit of a councillor.” Care home volunteer Fiona Leslie told The Courier she is proud to be standing in the by-election Asked why she had chosen to put herself forward Ms Leslie said: “As a care home volunteer helping people has always been at the heart of what I do “That’s why I’m standing—to be a local champion for this community.” Ms Leslie raised three areas she would focus on if elected, explaining: “If elected, I’ll fight to fix our pothole-ridden roads push for more community police officers on our streets and take urgent action on the housing crisis the SNP at Holyrood have let our community down We need common-sense solutions—and that’s what I’ll bring “Local people deserve a councillor who listens Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate Ed Scotcher wants to attract voters who feel let down by the SNP and Labour he says he had never planned to become a politician “I’ve always been a big believer in getting out there,” he said “I feel ambitious about helping other people by standing up for them.” the council hopeful said he would prioritise listening to what locals want He says key issues raised with him are access to healthcare “We’ve heard mainly about the Glenrothes bus station,” he added “One of the things we want to prioritise is working with the police to tackle the anti-social behaviour.” Ian Smith says he first came across Nigel Farage watching ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here He decided Mr Farage was the “type of chap you could go for a pint with” and joined up Mr Smith says he was wants to focus on tackling anti-social behaviour as well as fixing the town’s “pothole crisis” The Reform candidate says he will push Fife Council to end “wasteful spending on Net Zero schemes” and instead focus on essential local services Mr Smith said one of his main reasons for standing was to “punish” the “wet” Tories after what he deemed to be years of failure “We should have been able to wrestle our autonomy back from Europe,” Mr Smith said “For the 14 years the Tories were in power A Fife mum has warned drivers to be on their guard after her son was fined £60 for an 18-minute car park stop parked at the Saltire Centre in Glenrothes at 11pm last April And he was shocked to receive a parking charge notice through the post weeks later while it is free to park there for two hours during the day Mum Linzi says more needs to be done to ensure signs in private car parks are clear and easy to read “These signs are high up out of view the writing is small and they’re not illuminated when it’s dark,” she said While Craig’s issue happened several months ago Linzi decided to get in touch after reading about another problem at the same Glenrothes private car park Leven estate agent Jim Parker complained he received a £60 charge after missing signs in the pouring rain. He also alleged information is deliberately placed out of the line of sight to catch people out added: “I appealed the fine but it was rejected “It’s all very cloak and dagger and nobody knows about this £5 charge until the letter comes through the door I’ve been shopping there for years and was not aware of this at all.” The Glenrothes car park is managed by NexusPark which operates more than 1,200 sites across the UK Nexus says enforcement is “part of a parking management strategy ensuring our clients’ requirements are met and their customers are able to park easily” The company did not respond when The Courier outlined Linzi’s claims it said previously: “Clear signage on site outlines the terms.” The Glenrothes Distillery is not open to the public The Spirits Business was given a behind the scenes tour of the production space in Speyside along with a private tasting of the brand’s single malt portfolio The Glenrothes has been producing some of Speyside’s finest single malt Scotch whisky for almost 150 years the distillery is located in the village of Rothes in Speyside It was previously distributed by Berry Brothers & Rudd but came under ward of Edrington UK in 2022 With The Macallan as its stablemate and close neighbour in Speyside, it is easy to draw parallels between the two brands – especially as we paid a visit to The Macallan’s estate in the same week Both producers receive their malted barley from Simpsons Malt, and both age their whisky in Sherry-seasoned casks from Jerez in Spain And while both brands produce super-premium single malts demonstrating just how many variations are at play when it comes to whisky production not just in the world these differences were highlighted with a tour of the 300-acre estate and a history lesson of the distillery On the day the first whisky ran off the stills – 145 years ago last Saturday (28 December 1879) – the Tay Bridge which crosses the Firth of Tay between Dundee and Fife This awful disaster meant that the excitement of Glenrothes first distillation was overshadowed the distillery did make headlines almost two decades later during the build of a second malt kiln and an increase in stills from two to four a fire broke out and caused serious damage further damage was caused by a serious explosion a fire in Warehouse Number One caused the loss of 200,000 imperial gallons (910,000-litres) of whisky with much of it running into the Burn of Rothes which flows alongside the distillery and down into the town – much to the delight of opportunist locals with a bucket to spare This was followed by another fire 40 years later but for once this disaster brought a silver lining as it afforded Glenrothes the opportunity to expand and a further re-build in 1982 extended the still hall to five wash stills and five spirit stills there are an almost immeasurable number of elements that go into making the spirit that eventually goes inside the bottle the malted barley used in the creation of The Glenrothes is provided by Simpsons Malt which also supplies the likes of Chivas Brothers and The Borders Distillery but unique to The Glenrothes is the water used in both the mash and the dilution process Being situated at the foot of the Mannoch Hills The water in these springs has been filtered through rock formed millions of years ago and the result is an extremely soft and delicious water and with absolutely zero need for human intervention While the tasting highlight of our visit was obviously going to be the whisky sampling this water directly from the spring was a real eye-opener to the importance of working with such high-quality core ingredients and was an insight into how the whisky’s clean and elegant character is achieved This achievement is further highlighted with a visit to the stills in which a slow flow rate of distillation is undertaken at approximately half the speed of some other well-known distilleries the distillation takes place in ‘unusually tall stills’ – roughly the size of two African elephants standing on top of each other – which optimises copper contact removing heavy flavour compounds and subsequently creating a bright and fruity spirit that is refined while remaining complex The Glenrothes’ ageing takes place in Sherry-seasoned oak casks and housed in both dunnage and racked warehouses These casks are put together by the brand’s own coopers who are based at The Macallan’s onsite disgorging and filling facility on site at the distillery For an insight into how these casks are put together we were joined by two of the brand’s coopers who together have almost 60 years of experience between them After demonstrating with speed how the casks are assembled we were given our own chance to try our hand at building a cask While it is unlikely that my hand-built cask in its current state will go onto house any of the brand’s whisky on account of it almost definitely having holes in it the casks that are used by the distillery are utilised for a minimum of 15 years – the youngest aged whisky in the brand’s core portfolio The week before our visit, The Glenrothes unveiled the latest expression to join its core portfolio – the 15-year-old single malt it was not the first whisky sampled in the tasting the 18-year-old expression was the first dram on offer on account of its similarities with the 25-year-old Rampling explained: “We think about the 18-year-old as a spirit growing up – coming of age It’s starting to become a little bit more sophisticated.” is matured predominantly in first-fill Sherry-seasoned oak casks That first fill is then split fairly evenly between American and European oak casks with the ratio skewed every so slightly more in the direction of American than European “Sometimes I use refill interchangeably with Bourbon casks as well,” she said Rampling explained that because Glenrothes neutral spirit has got a lot of natural sweetness it is able to harness the sweetness of the American oak really quite well is one of the reasons why vanilla is one of the first aromas she gets when nosing the whisky and that’s all coming from the American oak You also get the natural sweet fruit of The Glenrothes spirit that fruit is starting to become quite fragrant So I think in the 18-year-old it’s like a pear while with the [now discontinued] 12-year-old we would call out more juicier fruits – but the 18-year-old is starting to become a little bit more sophisticated in terms of its fragrance.” Behind that she notes gentle spice and dried ginger “The age also brings us a sort of fresh almond note to the whisky at this point Rampling explained exactly why she likes to offer these two aged expressions in succession: “There’s a relationship between the 18- and 25-year-old,” clarifying that the older of the two is actually a new liquid “We did have a 25-year-old in our portfolio before but we didn’t have any more of the casks that we used for it So with the new packaging [unveiled in October 2023] there was an opportunity to create a new whisky and so I thought about what I wanted to do and having discovered what I discovered about the maturation of our spirit it would be a nice thing to showcase just age.” Rampling chose to not change anything else about what was behind the whisky and the balance made up with refill you always need That’s just showcasing exactly what an additional seven years does to The Glenrothes spirit in the same type of casks “So what you’re seeing here is all the same flavour categories [as the 18-year-old] but they’re just ratcheted up in terms of either indulgence or fragrance It’s moved from sort of pear fragrance into sort of stone fruit territory then your vanilla is actually giving a more intense vibe; a liquid caramel is what I get It’s that evolution and the fragrance really coming out which Rampling described as “hot off the press” this expression is an example of the influence casks have on The Glenrothes spirit “The story that I wanted to tell was around wood Having learned what I’ve learned about the fact that American oak really comes to the fore with the spirit I wanted to experiment with heroing European oak I wanted to push how much European I could actually use in The Glenrothes style So that’s what the 15 is all about.” This expression has been matured predominantly in European oak “because the answer to my question: how far was it I could push it the European oak offers some spice and dried fruit “just to enhance the natural sweetness of our new make spirit” before adding “a little bit balance” with refill casks “just to get the right proportions.” The strap line for the 15-year-old is ‘bright “because what you will get in here is sweet baking spices so it’s very different character,” she said noting a lot of natural sweetness that is more like brown sugar because it’s a richer form of maturation baked pear – and then there’s lots of lovely baking spices And all that spice is coming from the European oak.” are the three that form The Glenrothes core range “So these are the three that will be consistent These are the ones that I work batch to batch of being identical every time which is actually harder than creating a limited edition project because you’ve got to produce something that’s the same every time But that’s part of the joy of the job,” she said Two people have been arrested after police found three cannabis farms inside a building in Glenrothes About 20 officers raided an industrial unit on Crompton Road on Thursday morning Officers wearing protective gear forced entry to the building using cutting equipment The raid was part of a major drugs operation headed up by Detective Constable Bryan Laing Detective Sergeant Andy Mitchell – another of the lead officers – said three separate cannabis cultivations and various equipment had been found inside He said: “Today’s operation is part of an ongoing drive to close down this sort of illegal activity and target those allegedly involved in this type of criminality “We will now be locking down the site while a forensic investigation of the unit gets under way “An assessment of the techniques used will also be made so we can continue to adapt our targeting of anyone involved in these types of cultivations “We must also thank the public for their continued support “Today’s raid has come about because of the information and intelligence passed to us by members of the public.” The Courier’s reporter Neil Henderson, who was given exclusive access to the raid, said: “A large team of both uniformed and plain-clothed officers gathered at police HQ in Glenrothes for an intelligence briefing before a convoy of vans and cars headed to the remote industrial unit on the outskirts of the town officers surrounded the unit while traffic officers also sealed off the road then immediately worked to gain access to the front entrance of the premises “I watched as a hydraulic platform was used to lift the roller shutters “A second officer then used a large angle grinder to cut through the shuttering officers surrounded the premises to stop anyone inside from leaving “A large access hole was cut into the shutter allowing an officer to climb inside “A door was then smashed through allowing police to rush inside “Around 15-20 minutes after the police had gained entry two people were led away to a waiting police car.” There are increasing concerns for a Glenrothes teen who has been reported missing for the second time in a week was last seen in the Fife town at about 9.10pm on Friday He also has connections to Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Police have described John as a white male of a very slim build and with short dark brown hair He was last seen wearing black jogging bottoms It is thought he may also have had an over the shoulder white or yellow bag Police confirmed that this is a fresh appeal, following an earlier appeal on Tuesday. Anyone with information has been asked to contact 101 quoting incident number 4248 from March 14 Poundstretcher’s bid to move into an empty former trampoline park in Glenrothes has been rejected for a second time Fife Council turned down the store’s application for the former XTreme Park site stating it could affect the viability of Glenrothes town centre The controversial proposal to relocate from its current site at the Saltire Retail Park emerged two years ago However, it was also thrown out over the potential town centre threat closed suddenly in April 2023 but is now preparing to reopen in the Kingdom Centre The owners claimed they were told to leave by their landlords retail park owners Sackville UK Property Select It was hoped the move would clear the way for The Range to move into the empty Glenrothes Poundstretcher site Poundstretcher submitted fresh plans for the 18,000 sq ft unit in November 2023. Its planning statement said: “Due to their scale and nature the proposals are unlikely to be a material threat to the vitality and viability of Glenrothes town centre.” Poundstretcher added there were no suitable town centre sites available And it argued it already operates at the Saltire Centre and merely wants to replace like with like council planner Brian Forsyth maintains the town centre is the most sustainable location for the proposed development He says the Saltire Centre should be used for non-food retail And opening in locations that encourage the use of the private car is discouraged He adds: “Retaining Poundstretcher in addition to The Range would still result in a significant erosion of the intended focus of the retail park.” Tributes are pouring in for a Glenrothes footballing legend and “beautiful man” who has died at the age of 88 Joe McCafferty was highly regarded in the Fife football scene He helped found Glenrothes Strollers and was involved with the club for more than 50 years He worked with many talented players during his career in the game – including Stevie Tosh Chris Templeman and former Scotland international Colin Cameron Joe was also dedicated to disability football in Fife and inspired many young players But it wasn’t just players he helped Former Raith Rovers boss Gary Locke received advice from him ahead of a Fife derby clash with Dunfermline Athletic in 2016 Joe was frequently recognised for his work in football These included a Broons award from DC Thomson in 2016 and being named citizen of the year by Glenrothes Rotary Club in 2010 He was also recognised by the Kirkcaldy and Central Fife Sports Council and the Scottish FA – who once named him best volunteer in youth football Joe was also a family man with three children nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren He moved from Glasgow to Glenrothes in 1960 working as a building labourer before retiring Joe died on Friday morning having been diagnosed with cancer around a month ago Joe’s grandson Tony Chalmers described him as “such a beautiful human” who will “never truly know” how much he meant to so many people He added: “He was also a pillar of the Fife community who had an impact on countless lives through his unwavering dedication to football and volunteering “For over five decades he gave his time and love to Glenrothes Strollers Football Club and disability football in Fife inspiring so many young players and leaving behind a legacy of kindness “His impact on Fife football has been incredible “He got the pleasure to work with some unbelievably talented players Tony said: “I would describe my grandy as a selfless and devoted man who dedicated his life to uplifting others through football and community service he coached and mentored countless young people particularly with Glenrothes Strollers Football Club “He had an incredible ability to make everyone feel valued leaving a lasting impact not just on players but on entire families across generations “I’ll best remember him for his humour and the way he brought people together – on and off the pitch.” His most cherished moment is Joe being named the best volunteer in youth football by the SFA in 2021 Tributes from those who knew Joe describe him as a hero inspiration and “absolute legend” Others say Glenrothes “will never be the same again” and “there will never be anyone like him” A group of budding engineers and mechanics from Glenrothes High School are heading stateside tomorrow to take part in the Hydrogen Grand Prix World Championships in Southern California The Glenrothes High School Team of Samuel Myles and Cameron McMillan will represent their school Scotland and the UK at the international event They’ll join teams from around the world to design radio-controlled cars in a four-hour endurance race around an indoor track The Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) is a STEM initiative (Science Engineering and Mathematics) backed by Horizon Hobby a multinational radio control products manufacturer The H2GP programme provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the engineering principles behind the future of a Green - renewable energy society and provides them with an opportunity to work in a team with individual responsibilities whilst working towards a common goal Headteacher Avril McNeill joined the team yesterday to wish them luck and a safe journey She said: “We are so proud of what the team have achieved already and everyone is so excited to see how they perform in the World Championship “This is an amazing experience for them and a chance to show off their engineering skills They have all worked so hard on this project and this trip will give them the chance to interact with students from across the world “We can’t thank Fife College enough for their support alongside Andrew Sealey (Teacher of Technologies) who will support our team at the international event and to Stacey Bradshaw (Teacher of Physics) who supported the team to their UK success.” Glenrothes High School hosted and won the UK championship on the 18th of June 2024 with teams from Scotland and England competing The Glenrothes team won the race by a considerable margin: 634 laps almost 60 laps ahead of the closest competition Winning this event has given the team the opportunity to compete at the H2GP World Championship which begins on Sunday 8th of September 2024 Teams will be competing  from Australia The races are taking place at Anaheim Convention Centre where the 20th RE+ renewable energy event is taking place This is the largest clean energy event in North America There will be exhibitors and delegates attending from all over the world Following a public consultation with residents Fife Council has unveiled the new design for Inverary Avenue Park play area in Glenrothes Fife Council is providing £50,000 towards the new play area and the other half is currently being raised by Pitteuchar Stenton & Finglsssie Community Council Almost 100 people took part in the consultation and the final design takes on board their suggestions and choices The new design is made up of a variety of accessible equipment suitable for everyone including wet pour mushrooms a triple tower unit with a chute and swings Once all the funding is in place we’ll be able to start work on the new play area said: “A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation to let us know what they would like to see in the new play area The variety of new equipment will mean there will be something suitable and accessible for everyone “I’d also like to thank Pitteuchar Stenton & Finglassie Community Council for all their hard work and fundraising efforts Stenton & Finglassie Community Council Stenton & Finglassie are actively seeking funds to help with the creation of the new playpark at Inveraray Avenue This will be the first partnership we have with Fife Council and we hope the partnership will continue as we look to upgrade other playparks in our community council area over the next few years.” Local elections are often dismissed as insignificant but there is no doubt they can provide a useful indication of what is happening in national politics with about a third of councils up for election the first major electoral test of Sir Keir Starmer’s government after the Labour Party’s triumph at the General Election last July Even the most optimistic Labour supporter would be forced to admit it has not been straightforward since But Thursday’s ballot – which includes the Runcorn and Helsby by-election – will be a key test of just how unpopular the Labour Party has become Had it taken place in the aftermath of Rachel Reeves’ October budget but party strategists will hope Starmer’s more recent statesman-like work on the world stage will prompt a semi-revival Given Scottish Labour’s fortunes have declined in tandem with its UK counterpart a better than expected showing on Thursday could therefore give succour to Anas Sarwar who has witnessed his chances of becoming first minister next May diminish in recent months it would give a much-needed boost to Starmer and Reeves which can only benefit the party in Scotland heaping additional pressure on the government and with only a year to go to the Scottish Parliament election a battering on Thursday would leave Labour in very short supply But the local elections are also a key moment for Reform UK and the Conservative Party Nigel Farage is keen to present his party as an alternative to – and replacement for – Kemi Badenoch’s Tories and is currently leading them in the opinion polls A strong showing for Farage would undoubtedly put Badenoch under pressure and fuel speculation that Reform UK really can break the two-party mould of British politics As polling guru Sir John Curtice has suggested Thursday’s result could represent “the biggest challenge to the political conventions of British politics since the 1920s” Such a moment would obviously have a UK-wide significance but it would have direct implications in Scotland too Scotland is far from removed from the advance of Reform UK as another local election – the recent council by-election in Glenrothes – showed The headline announcement here was an SNP victory in a seat the Labour Party won by a landslide in July John Swinney’s party outpolled Scottish Labour by more than two to one – a remarkable turnaround from the general election where Richard Baker won the seat with a majority of nearly 3,000 But the result also showed the growth of Reform UK who picked up close to 18 per cent of the vote almost double the 9.8 per cent they received last July And a clear victory at local elections in England on Thursday would only reinforce the view that the party can make gains in Scotland too it would hand Reform UK crucial momentum ahead of the Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse Scottish Parliament by-election in June a strong showing there would leave Reform UK poised to win multiple seats at the Holyrood election in May next year and be a kingmaker in the event of a fractured parliament The leader of Reform UK is undoubtedly a controversial figure at least with certain segments of the population his friendship with maverick US President Donald Trump as well as his dubious views on the Russian invasion of Ukraine seem to have done little to diminish his support And yet the former UKIP leader has never managed to gain such popularity in Scotland famously harassed by a braying mob when he visited Edinburgh in 2013 and mostly steered clear of public events here since it is notable that Reform UK’s rise in Scotland has taken place without him even setting foot in the country or campaigning in places such as Glenrothes where he clearly has support with Farage likely to make at least one visit to Scotland shortly Larkhall and Stonehouse and also visit the party’s councillors in the northeast where support for Reform UK has proved particularly strong Whether these visits – and the spectre of Farage haunting Scotland – will boost or hinder Reform UK’s rise is anyone’s guess these local elections could actually represent a crucial pivot point in British politics The SNP have swept to victory in a Fife Council by-election Lynda Holton took the Glenrothes Central and Thornton seat previously held for 18 years by veteran SNP councillor Ross Vettraino Ms Holton secured 790 more first preference votes than Labour’s Maciej Dokurno and was elected in the fourth round of transfers The result comes nine months after Labour’s Richard Baker won the Glenrothes Westminster seat from the SNP Ms Holton said: “This is a by-election none of us wanted “I know my predecessor Councillor Ross Vettraino was highly respected Ms Holton said Mr Vettraino set a “gold standard” as a councillor And she pledged to meet that standard every day First Minister John Swinney wrote on X: “Huge @theSNP win in Glenrothes Central and Thornton by-election with 47.6% of first preference votes “Well done to Cllr Lynda Holton and her team on an outstanding victory.” Ms Holton also paid tribute to her husband Fife Council’s SNP leader Craig Walker I would like to thank the voters of Glenrothes Central and Thornton for the faith they have placed in me “I will work hard to represent you all to the best of my ability.” Ms Holton pledged to work to preserve local services And she said tackling anti-social behaviour would be a particular focus She added: “During this by-election campaign I have committed only to what I can realistically achieve for the residents of this ward and I am determined to deliver on this commitment.” The by-election result means the Fife Council minority Labour administration still has 19 members compared to the SNP’s 34 The Liberal Democrats have 13 councillors and there are eight Conservatives and one independent The full Glenrothes Central and Thornton result (first preferences) Ed Scotcher (Liberal Democrat) – 207 Two men have been charged after police seized around 500 cannabis plants worth £700,000 in a Glenrothes drugs raid A team of around 20 officers descended on the industrial unit on Crompton Road in the Southfield area of the town on Thursday Officers used specialist cutting equipment and a hydraulic press to break through a roller shutter door before smashing through a second entrance into the property The Courier was given exclusive access to observe the police preparations and accompany officers as the raid was launched Detectives later confirmed that three separate cannabis farms were discovered within the building It’s now been confirmed that around 500 cannabis plants Officers spent two days clearing the premises with a large amount of growing and other equipment also seized The building has now been secured and handed over to energy engineers to make safe Two men arrested at the scene have now been charged in connection with the incident A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8am on Thursday officers acting under warrant entered a property in Crompton Road Glenrothes and found a cannabis cultivation site within have been arrested and charged in connection and were due to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Friday.” The oldest whisky to be released by the Glenrothes the 51 is packaged in a cylinder which must be broken in order to access the whisky within The Glenrothes has revealed a 51-year-old single malt presented in an unusual packaging, which replaces the distillery's previous 50-year-old release as its oldest whisky to date the distillery says new release The 51 is inspired by the "strength in fragility" of the wild orchids which grow on the Glenrothes' estate in Speyside The liquid for the 51-year-old expression is drawn from just two casks The distillery says one cask brings "deeply perfumed notes" while the second complements it with "luxurious richness and depth" commented: “The 51 is a testament to those rare moments in whisky making when patience This whisky defies expectations — elegant yet powerful Tasting notes supplied by the distillery highlight fruits The whisky is presented in a solid Jesmonite column and can only be accessed by smashing the column with a hammer which the Glenrothes provides for the occasion Each column will therefore break in a different way which the distillery says means it will be unique to is owner like how an orchid is designed to attract a single pollinator the Glenrothes invites owners to send the pieces back to the distillery where a Kintsugi artist will repair it using a precious metal in which the distillery says a real orchid can grow The Glenrothes 51 is priced at £37,000 and available via select whisky specialists Long-standing plans to replace two ageing Glenrothes secondary schools will be scrapped under Fife Council budget proposals New-build Glenrothes and Glenwood high schools have been a local authority priority since 2016 Both were built in the 1960s and are said to be in dire need of an upgrade However, the council’s plan for one merged school for 1,600 pupils failed to receive Scottish Government funding in 2023. And Labour leader David Ross says this means it is no longer affordable He said: “We applied for money to replace Glenwood and Glenrothes schools but that was turned down by the Government “Now we need to put money into refurbishing them instead.” Major improvements to the notorious Standing Stane Road will also be abandoned if the Labour budget is approved on Thursday And £3 million previously pledged for new destination playparks will be cut Opposition councillors have reacted with disappointment to the Glenrothes secondary schools’ proposal SNP leader Craig Walker said his party is committing £16m for the project in its budget proposals “We know £16m won’t cover it but we’re still committed to new schools in Glenrothes and are working with colleagues elsewhere to try to move them along,” he said “I’m disappointed in the move to dilute a commitment to Glenrothes and I’m sure the public will be too.” with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups likely to vote with Labour the SNP’s budget stands little chance of approval which has a school roll of just under 900 pupils was opened in 1962 and then renovated in 1982 the new building in the town would likely have been operational from around 2027 In all, Fife Council‘s capital plan faces a 20% reduction in funds due to high inflation and interest rates Mr Ross said: “There are two big pressures “Construction costs and general inflation has gone up a lot and interest rates haven’t come down as fast as predicted “So we’ve either had to remove some projects or find additional funding.” the Labour group has pledged millions of pounds for several projects across the region These include maintaining money for a new Anstruther care village £13.1m will be set aside for new swimming pool and leisure facilities in west Fife Cash for flooding prevention schemes will also be maintained along with road maintenance and vehicle replacements A pupil was left bleeding from the head after an attack by a gang of teenagers at a Fife high school on Friday It is understood a large group of boys – five of whom have been suspended – targeted three older pupils at Glenrothes High School One schoolboy is said to have been punched repeatedly A source revealed several staff members tried to intervene They said: “This was a major incident where three boys were jumped by nine other pupils “A gang of them turned up looking for these older boys “They were very aggressive to pupils and staff and some of them were very violent “One of the older boys was bleeding from both sides of the head.” which took place inside the school building But Police Scotland say the matter is being handled by Glenrothes High Glenrothes Labour MP Richard Baker branded the attack “shocking and appalling” He said: “It goes without saying all parents should be able to send their child to school in the morning knowing they will be safe “That’s a basic expectation and a basic right Fife Council head of education Maria Lloyd said all of the region’s schools have “robust policies and procedures in place to deal with issues of poor behaviour” She said: “Our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our young people “Police attended and the school is dealing with the incident “The school is supporting and working with the young people and families directly involved.” Friday’s attack at Glenrothes High comes amid rising violence in schools Fife teachers reported more than 6,000 incidents last year And it emerged as a key worry among both parents and teachers at a public meeting in January Fife Council is holding a summit on violence in schools later this month And Mr Baker said: “I’m glad to see this issue is being taken seriously because the current situation is completely unacceptable otherwise we risk violence in schools becoming the new normal.”