Style: Sweet and Spicy
Nose:
Playful dark red fruits swaying on the nose, sweetness quickly surrounded by fresh-cut ginger and sharp spices. A small pinch of gunpowder mixed within. Blackcurrants, plums rising on a peppermint surge, while subtle umami drops deeper. Light combination of caramel, figs and malt towards the end.
Palate:
Demerara sugar converges neatly at the tip, then it is smashed off by a furious wave of peppermint spice. Pepper sprinkling down to the red fruits core. Nicely sweet on a spicy edge. Grape juice, bubblegum slowly transform into lemon-ginger malt. A touch of creaminess is added to the body. Finish with raisins and dark chocolate notes.
Finish:
Elements of sweet lemon fruits echoes with red grapes and sharp ginger. Spices give a rather long-lasting kick here. Subtle sherry lingers, lemon tea flowing… All is well.
Thoughts:
Glenrothes at formidable form. To be honest, the spirit of Glenrothes can be very spicy at higher strength, but at around 51% the flavours deliver without overwhelmed by the hotness. The strength gives a very powerful kick but not numbing. Sweet sherry while not cloying, flavours transcend over time which invites you to drink dram after dram. Yes, it is not a technically perfect whisky, but it is an excellent sipper after a long day. Nice, relaxing dram for cask strength drinkers like me…
✓ [Recommended if you like the style/ distillery]
[51.7% • 2017 Bottled • 1997 Distilled • Independent Bottling • Single Cask • Cask Strength • Non Chill Filtered • Non Coloured • No Age Statement • Aged 20 Years • 60 Bottles • t]
Bottled for the Whisky Fair, tasted at the Oak Barrel
-Esmond
WhiskNick 