The Glenrothes Select Reserve Shelf Review
Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.
After finishing up my deep dive into Three Chord and their core bourbon range, I decided to switch it up and pick up a nice sample pack of three different Glenrothes single malts Scotch whiskies to try (along with a pack of Glengoyne samples). This sample pack had apparently been on the shelf a while since two of the expressions were bottled all the way back in 2013. The Glenrothes isn’t distillery I have too much experience with (mostly independent bottlers), so I was excited to try a few of their official expressions.
To start off we are going to take a look at their entry level Select Reserve expression which has a 40% ABV and uses a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks blended together to create the “house style” of The Glenrothes. Like I mentioned, this is a slightly older bottling (from back in 2013) so the one today may vary slightly!
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 40%
Cask: Ex-sherry and ex-bourbon barrels
MSRP: $55
Distillery Name: The Glenrothes
Review Date: 1/10/22
Nose: Clean, strong minerality, and crisp. Soft fruits, peach cream, apple peel, shortbread, and a touch of citrus zest. Refreshing and inviting, I was impressed by the nose and its fruit tart qualities.
Palate: The minerality on the nose continues in the palate. Youthful sweetness, green apple, vanilla, honeysuckle, slight notes of sulfur and a slight metallic tinge. Soft front of the palate, with more creaminess in the mid palate. And a flash of pink Starburst as the finish takes over. There’s no peat or smokiness to be found here.
Finish: More bite on the finish where the spice comes to life – even at 40% ABV. Medium length with white pepper, dry chili flakes, and slightly toasted wood.
