[56.6%・13 Years Old・Distilled in 2003・Bottled in 2016・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release of 564 bottles]
Nose:
The oak merges well with the inviting sherry influence, dark chocolate and moist Christmas cake dressed with some toasted almonds. That classy note of staves well seasoned with sherry along with a subtle touch of earthiness give the dram much depth.
Palate & Finish:
Quality sherried whisky with just a brush of spices at the entry point, bursting with bright flavours but very gentle for a young Glenrothes sherry cask; it drinks more like a 48% rather than a whisky bottled at mid-50%. Luscious creaminess of a body as the tannins provide a base upon which the dark prunes and sticky raisins lay. Brown sugar boiling in the background echoing the charming acidity from the poached fruits.
The finishing is rewarding, oozing of dark chocolate sauce as the tannins continue to dry out the excessive sweetness.
Thoughts:
Congratulations Mr. Hutchins-Read for bringing us a winner! Nothing short of a triumph for us Aussie battlers and Glenrothes’ reputation as a sherry house.
☆ [Recommended]
–Nicholas
WhiskNick 