Glenrothes Soleo Collection 12 Year

The nose shows a lot of sherry cask influence. Initially, there's a strong Play Dough note, a musky vanilla, with cherry hints and a doughy foundation. After airing, notes of rose petals, white chocolate, honeydew melon, caramel, a touch of orange peel, a pinch of nutmeg, and a little sweet allspice emerge. Spice dominates the palate with cinnamon stick, ginger powder, and white pepper. Sweetness quickly follows with a veritable ambrosia salad in your mouth. Beyond the usual marshmallow, mandarin orange, coconut, whipped cream, and maraschino cherry, there's also white peach and a thin caramel syrup. The body is also on the thin side, though sufficient. In the glass, it struggles to form legs, with streaks plunging down the sides like waves pulling away from a shore. The finish is gentle and very pleasant. There's plenty of soft yet spicy oak, with very low tannins. Additionally, a lingering warmth in the form of cinnamon chewing gum, plus almonds, freeze-dried apple, a suggestion of candied lemon peel, and both vanilla and classic Tootsie Rolls. Nose: 9 Taste: 9 Body: 7 Finish: 9

The sherry cask finish is immediately noticeable on the nose. Hints of honey, vanilla, green apple, and white grapefruit are very clear, along with the expected brine and black pepper. The aroma is surprisingly complex for an 80-proof spirit. Further sniffing reveals bananas, ash, and smoke. When swirled in the mouth, spice was instantly felt in the throat, with minimal flavor remaining on the tongue or in the nose. Additional sips bring out more spice, light vanilla, and a touch of the sherry and citrus detected when smelling. The aroma is far more intricate than the palate. The finish is brief, likely due to the low proof, and disappointingly, the flavors detected on the nose are absent from the palate. General assessment: Aroma 4/5; Taste 1.75/5; Finish 2/5; Overall 2.25/5 Would buy again: No

Nose: Stewed apple and rhubarb, vanilla, sweet sherry fruits. A faint sulphurous note. Palate: Cream, leather, hazelnuts, chocolate, herbaceous, honey, and melon. Sultanas and sherry influence provide the finish. Finish: Short, watery melon, with an astringent spice. I seem to recall tasting this some time ago and finding it quite enjoyable. Tonight, however, while there's much to discover and contemplate, there's also something quite off-putting. It just doesn't sit well with me. I suspect it's the slight sulphurous note on the nose. It's a pity because, with that removed, I believe this could be a really interesting sherry cask where the sherry flavors aren't dominant. Perhaps I'll leave this open and try it again later; I think it's worth a second (or third) tasting... A whisky taste #62

Smell: oak and grain, faint lemon notes, and a whisper of sherry. Taste: the oak and subtle sherry come through (I expected more sherry considering the aging!), with banana and dried grapes, all harmonizing nicely. Finish: brief, featuring dried grapes, banana, and a touch of sherry. Nothing spectacular, truly just a standard product. Score 3.25

This is my first Speyside, so the aroma is much harder to break down than my usual bourbons. I can detect notes of honey with a slight tang, reminding me of honey sticks/straws. I'm also getting some pear, though I seem to pick that up with anything that has even a hint of fruit, so your experience may vary. On tasting, the melon and cinnamon are definitely present, though I'm struggling to detect the vanilla. It's not a particularly bold dram, definitely more approachable.

Aroma: Vanilla, cooked orchard fruits, with a touch of earthiness. Taste: Sweet, with notes of dried fruit, nuts, oak, honey, and spice (cinnamon). Aftertaste: A medium-long finish, with notes of baking spices and cooked fruit. This is a delightful, spicy, sherry-influenced dram. Approachable and very enticing. I've found myself consuming a significant amount of this on many evenings. A superb all-around sweet and fruity spirit.