Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve

I recently bought a bottle of this for times when I want something that isn't overly complicated and is easy to drink in larger quantities. I have sampled various Glenrothes expressions before, but never a full bottle. I found this locally for $40 and remembering that this spirit is generally easy to drink, I decided to purchase it. This specific bottle is 40% ABV, has coloring added, and is chill-filtered. It presents as a deep gold with a subtle red tint, appearing quite viscous and forming numerous legs and droplets around the glass's rim. The aroma is characteristic of Speyside sherry, with red berries consistently present. It's slightly subdued on the nose and palate, with some sawdust notes emerging if allowed to sit for a while. There are no distinct barrel notes to be detected. The taste is again, predominantly, berries and a smooth malty quality. It's excessively watery, with some bitter oak appearing later on the back end. The viscosity also diminishes, and it becomes somewhat dry. The finish is short, and all the flavor dissipates a bit too quickly for my preference, though a slight warmth lingers. In summary, some elements seem artificial, but the overall profile aligns with most sherry cask whisky styles. If anything, it requires an increase in ABV and perhaps more cask influence, though that would likely raise the price and invite more scrutiny. As it stands, I feel it only warrants 2.75-3 stars. It serves as an easy sipper for those moments when you just want to relax and enjoy something sweet while getting a mild buzz. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Cheers, my friends.

Aroma: A blend of dried and fresh stone fruits, caramel, and strawberry jam. Taste: The mouthfeel is rather thin, with strawberry jelly, a hint of milk chocolate, caramel, raisin, and orange zest. Finish: Mild cinnamon warmth, diluted strawberry jelly, and light caramel. Score: 72/100 Overall: I have mixed feelings about this one. The aroma seemed quite ordinary, lacking the deep, musty stone fruit scent of an older, sherried Scotch, but offering more vivid and fresh scents instead. It felt quite thin and predominantly sweet. The palate wasn't significantly different, though it seemed a bit more subdued than the nose and then faded very quickly on the finish. Nothing is particularly off-putting, but it's just a bit uninteresting for a sherry finish. Not great, not bad, but not memorable. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

A sherry cask that isn't overwhelming. Simple, sweet, and pleasantly fruity, as expected from Glenrothes. It's a shame they discontinued their main lineup. Interestingly, they seemed to revisit the intense sherry approach with Makers Cut. On the nose, it presents with orange and ginger. After allowing my glass to breathe, sherry notes emerge with grapes and some nutmeg. On the palate, orange zest is the first impression, followed by ginger. Faint vanilla and oak appear later. The mouthfeel is oily, light, and sweet. The finish is short and subtle, with sweet orange zest lingering for a few moments. After some time, notes of candy cane and orange slices remain. It's regrettable that this is no longer available. I bought this in the Caribbean and wish I had purchased more than one bottle. It's a delicate spirit that isn't overly complex, offering unique fruity characteristics.

COLOR/ Honey AROMA/ Sweet, Wood, Caramel, Citrus, Honey, Slight Vanilla, Spice. FIRST SIP/ Smooth, Citrus, Slight Sherry, Wood TASTE/ Slight Honey, Wood, Sweet Woodiness FINISH/ Slight Alcohol Warming, Wood, Oils, Unidentifiable Off-note EMPTY GLASS/ Strong Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar! Slight Wood 40 proof This is part of a 2015 Three Bottle Reserve release collection. 2 out of 3 (Personally least liked of the 3) This is an acceptable drink; however, there's an underlying flavor that doesn't harmonize well with the others. If this drink mirrored the empty glass (Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar), it would be exceptional. Be Kind, Be Generous, Be Real, Be Responsible!!! CH33RS

I experienced a fantastic whisky evening in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at Whisky Live, the premier and sole whisky tasting event in South America. I sampled 16 whiskies tonight, some truly remarkable. Glenrothes is an excellent distillery. It's certainly my preferred Speysider after Glenfiddich, and this dram did not disappoint. Bottled at 40% ABV. On the nose, ABUNDANT SHERRY. Blackberry marmalade, and wedding cake. A wonderful aroma. On the palate, very smooth, with a pleasant oakiness, quite creamy with a slightly bitter finish. The finish was quite lovely. Overall, I award this dram a solid 88 out of 100. Cheers!

Above standard. Low alcohol by volume and easy to drink. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."