Glenrothes 1995

This is one of those expressions that changes one's perception of an entire distillery. Previously, I considered Glenrothes a fairly ordinary Speyside producer that releases many non-age-stated bottles in distinctive containers resembling Blanton's. Now, I recognize them as the creators of Glenrothes '95. The combined effect of the oak and sherry maturation results in the aroma and taste of a malted chocolate milkshake, with a pleasant coating sensation in the mouth and a moderately long finish. As expected from a Speysider, there are occasional dark fruit flavors, though this spirit would never be confused with the rich, date-and-fig taste of Glendronach or other heavily sherried spirits, like the superior Macallan expressions. Nor does this seem to be the distillery's objective, as the aim appears to be the creation of a sweet, rich, balanced expression. In this, they succeed magnificently. Interestingly, despite the significant markup on beverages in DC, this 20-year-old Speyside scotch was available for a (relatively) affordable $9 per ounce at Boundary Stone. Keep in mind, it's all relative, as the bar charged the same price for Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, and Talisker Storm -- each costing around $50-60 in liquor stores. Glenrothes '95 is a $100+ bottle of scotch, so I felt compelled to try it. I'm glad I did! Note that this review pertains to the later bottling of Glenrothes 1995, which was released in 2014 and is an 18-19 year old spirit.

From 1995, bottled in 2010 after 15 years. Purchased for $60 in 2017. The aroma is powerfully honey and ripe apples. The taste has sharp fruit and a hot, medium-length conclusion. Ultimately, it was a letdown after the smell. I'll skip this if it's the peak of this distillery's offerings.

Remarkable, it's been 5 years since I last tried this! It's very rich and well-balanced. Flavors of honey, malty bread, caramel, butterscotch, delightful. Many thanks to my wonderful wife for the Valentine's Day gift!

Clear, straight gold color, with no visible alcohol legs, which is unusual. Aroma: simple, like the crust of white bread. Taste: a strong woody character, with honey and white bread crust notes. Medium body. Finish of moderate length. (Initialed by reviewer).

Buttery Light honey Mint Menthol Spicy oak Bittersweet finish My expectations were high for this... unfortunately, it was unmemorable. I liked the '98 better. From the dry glass: malt chocolate

Superb spirit. Price: $100. Nose: toffee, cream, almond. Palate: milk chocolate. Finish: long, with no alcoholic burn. A truly brilliant dram. Body: 3.5/4