Glenrothes Soleo Collection 18 Year

This pour was part of a complimentary store tasting from Petite Cellars. Over 100 bottles of whisky were available for free. No brand representatives. No one attempting to sell you anything. Just let the liquid speak for itself - fantastic. With my partner, we sampled: This bottle Macallan 18 year fine oak Ardbeg 13 year chieftains cask strength Bunnahabhain 29 year John Milroy cask strength Kilchoman private single bourbon cask Compass Box The Spaniard Glen Scotia 15 year From those, we decided to purchase this bottle for 125 USD. It was our shared favorite. My personal preference was the Glen Scotia, but my partner disliked it. With sherry cask aging these days, you are glad to accept "seasoning" just to avoid sulfur notes. This one had no sulfur. The sherry did not possess the intensely deep flavor that likely no longer exists in affordable modern Scotch, but I did get a burst of caramel popcorn on the palate, and candied ginger on the finish. It was unexpected to have a genuine memory evoked, and not needing to refer to notes. "I almost detect a hint of..." nonsense. No. This dram provided a solid narrative. It offered something, when I expected nothing, and I bought a bottle to explore further. This completely surpassed the Mac 18 fine oak, by the way, which cost $100 more. I believe I will discuss that in my next review.

Nose: Weak, with apple and pear fruit salad, vanilla, and light sherry. Palate: Very delicate, featuring vanilla, honey, and chamomile. Light and pleasant. Finish: Short, vanilla-flavored, leaving minimal traces. A whisky that is undoubtedly pleasant and light, but I would describe it as lacking significant character and certainly not unforgettable. Rating 3.50 ________________________________________________________ Nose: Quite weak, apple and pear fruit salad, vanilla, light sherry. Palate: Very delicate, vanilla, honey, and chamomile. Light and enjoyable. Finish: Short, vanilla-flavored, tends to leave few traces. A whisky without a doubt pleasant, light, but which I would define as not having excessive character and certainly not unforgettable. Score 3.50

Absolutely delicious! It has notes of vanilla, ginger, rose, orange and pear, as stated. Additionally, this new Soleo Collection bottling has an incredibly deep taste - and aroma - of soft, chewy caramel. The kind of soft, chewy, homemade, melts-in-your-mouth individually wrapped caramel sometimes found at specialty shops. This was my first Glenrothes, and it's a winner. Not an overpowering sherry flavor, but rather the ideal amount of sweetness, with significantly more depth than I anticipated based on color alone (compared to some other 18-year old whiskies I've consumed over the years). This one is a keeper and will now reside in the esteemed top-shelf area of my cabinet alongside three or four other mature (18-25 year) Scottish relatives.

Nose: Rich, orange, vanilla, cherry bakewell tart Palate: Orange, ginger, pepper, allspice, black pepper, stewed and dried fruits. Oak, vanilla, toffee and a little chocolate. Finish: Long finish. Orange and pear sweetness. Black and white pepper, ginger syrup. Oak and vanilla on the aftertaste, but keeping much of the spirit's orange liveliness. This is a smooth and very enjoyable dram. There's the orange and vanilla signature you expect, with lots of oak and vanilla and a little ginger spice. It's not a daring dram at all, but silky smooth and very easy drinking. Delightful.

I'm surprised i have never tasted the well-liked and reasonably priced Glenrothes 18yo, a bottle that has somehow eluded me. On the nose, i detect crushed almonds, hazelnut. It reminds me of almond bubblegum. Maraschino cherries. Bubble gum. The palate was somewhat disappointing. Paper, almonds and strawberry jam. Aftertaste continues the same (rather dull) pattern. Almonds, hazelnut, grass. Overall, this was not at all what i anticipated. I was genuinely let down by it, too basic, dull and unmemorable. It lacks feeling and tasting and aroma notes. My rating for it is a 77 out of 100

Glenrothes 18 Color is amber gold Nose: 4/5 moderate proof, sweet, honey, a little glue, lemon, grapes, red apple, slightly tart, but not creamy, very fruity, floral, peanut, nutty. Palate: 2.75/5 very thin, watery. Little coating, but bitter, spice Finish: 3/5 typical, no new flavors Adding water and letting it sit: Nose: 4.25/5 grassy, minty but not spicy Palate: 3.75/5 sweet, full but not creamy, still some bitter notes, but also has a little sweetness at the end Finish: 4/5 a slight touch of sweetness and some sweet oak, mouth watering, slightly dry coat. Length: 3.75/5