Whisky : Glenrothes 12 Year SMWS 30.110 “To the power of 4”

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 64.5%

Cask : First Fill PX Sherry Butt

Age : 12 Year (Distilled 6 June 2007)

Nose : Dried fruits, dark chocolate, and lacquered wood.  Waves of rich, concentrated dried figs and dates promised sweetness, while dark chocolate offered a bitter contrast.  Notes of leather, a kiss of salt, and shoyu with hints of peppery spice.  Lacquered wood and oily dark roasted coffee developed with time.

Palate : Full-bodied and tannic with dried fruit, nuts, and coffee notes. Semi-dry sweetness with stone fruits, woody pits, and almonds roasted with honey and brown sugar. A few drops of water opened the dram up to caramelized desserts and espresso. Lingering notes of fruit-infused dark chocolate arrived at the end with the almost earthy umami of mushrooms peaking in behind the tannins.

Finish :  Lingering semi-sweet dates and wood.

Score : 6 

Mental Image : Freshly Burnt Coffee Beans

Notes :  Originally entitled “Espresso to the power of 4” this Glenrothes was exceptionally winey and full-bodied with loads of tannic structure and bitter-sweet notes. It was a punch in the face with sherry— an assault by tannic wine-drenched and aggressive cask— a classic sherry bomb experience with lovely nuttiness and almost savory earthiness.  

While this dram felt closed off at first, it opened up nicely with water— resting it did not seem to have the same effect. A few drops of water toned down some of the oaky notes and tannins, which allowed more of those sweet stone fruits to come through. Whether it was the first tasting I tried this at or my return to the bottle a year later, the profile remained rich, sherried, and ready to come alive with a few drops of water. 

Overall, a typical, if classic, sherry profile whose youthful spirit provided a nice counterpoint to the punchy cask flavors. Sherry bombs are not my favorite, so it would be a little surprise to find out that sherry aficionados rank this a few rungs higher than I did.