LeeEvolved
The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
May 9, 2018 (edited November 29, 2018)
I recently purchased a bottle of this for those days I feel like drinking something that’s not overly complex and easy to drink in larger amounts. I’ve had a few different samples from Glenrothes, but never an entire bottle. This was found locally for $40 and remembering that this stuff is generally easy drinking, I opted for the purchase.
This particular bottle is bottled at 40%, has color added and is chill-filtered. It’s a deep gold with a slight red hue, while appearing very oily and making lots of legs and droplets around the rim.
The nose is typical Speyside sherry with red berries constantly present. It’s slightly muted on the nose and palate, with some sawdust notes creeping in if you let it sit awhile. There’s no real barrel notes to be found.
The palate is again, primarily, berries and a smooth malty characteristic. It’s overly watery with some bitter oak filtering in later on the back end. The oiliness disappears as well and it turns a little dry.
The finish is short and all the flavor washes away a bit too easily for my liking, but there’s a slight warmth that stays behind.
Overall, there are bits that seem artificial, but the entire profile is true to most sherry cask whisky styles. If anything, it needs a boost in ABV and maybe some more cask presence, but then that would probably increase the cost and open this up to more scrutiny. As it is, just 2.75-3 stars is all I feel like it warrants. It makes for an easy drinker for those days you just want to sit around and sip on something sweet while catching an afternoon buzz. There’s nothing wrong with that. Cheers, my friends.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@LeeEvolved I have found myself sometimes grabbing a scotch with the mindset of just wanting sip without thinking (no nosing/tasting notes, etc) and just simplify for that moment. Good, honest review.