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Glenrothes Select Reserve

Spicy 'Rothes

6 386

@talexanderReview by @talexander

3rd Dec 2021

1

Glenrothes Select Reserve
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    86

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This is the standard NAS bottling of Glenrothes - or at least, it used to be as I'm not sure they make this anymore (it's not on their website). Most official Glenrothes bottlings are vintage releases; apparently this is a mix of different vintages, rather than just a super-young throwaway. This comes from a 100ml mini I got at auction.

The colour is a medium amber. On the nose it is juicy malt with vanilla, musty oak, light caramel and a hint of cinnamon. Almond biscotti - but actually quite nutty allround, with crushed walnuts and Brazil nut. Water brings out more malt and citrus. Fairly rich for an NAS single malt.

Fruitier on the palate with red apple skins, dates, raisins and orange peel. Quite spicy with a range of baking spices - clove, cinnamon, nutmeg - as well as some chili heat. Biscuity. Very creamy mouthfeel. More citrusy than the nose, for sure. Milk chocolate. Water evens out many of these notes, but slightly ups the heat. Seemed oakier on the nose, which is interesting. Nice balance of fruit, cereal and spice, quite scrumptious.

The finish is oaky, peppery and thick with caramel and vanilla. As I sit with this, the spice begins to dominate the other notes, which is too bad and it seems to drift out of balance. But it makes for a fairly rich and satisfying dram for a cool Friday evening.

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3 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@talexander I've never bought a bottle of Glen Rothes. No particular reason other than there's always something else. I might have to spring for one, just so I know. Have you tried any of their other offerings?

Interesting review. Thanks.

2 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@talexander thank you for your nice detailed review.

I have a bottle of this same Glenrothes Select Reserve which I have been nibbling on for 10 years now. It was 'just OK' at first, then after a year or two seemed to become bland, bland, bland, and boring, boring, boring. I wanted intensely to just finish the thing off, but I couldn't get myself to drink it. Then, 10 years of air exposure later, it surprised me, and showed me something richer and more interesting. I am enjoying it now by far the best in the 10 year period, but It will probably still take me another year to finish off the last 150 ml.

@talexander, @BlueNote I did taste some Glenrothes vintage releases which our friend @thecyclingyogi owned which were more interesting than the Select Reserve.

2 years ago 1Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@BlueNote I had a '95 vintage many years ago that was quite good, but the best was at a virtual Spirit of Toronto Masterclass with G&M, where we sampled a 1988 32yo single cask at 57.9%. Refill American hogshead - tons of coconut, creamy mouthfeel, absolutely dynamite.

2 years ago 1Who liked this?