Time for another Scotch review, and we got a bottle of the Glenrothes this time, the Bourbon Cask Reserve. The Bourbon Cask is 100% aged in former bourbon barrel casks. The bottle has no vintage or age statement on it, nor one that we could find on their website or anywhere else.
This Scotch pours a very light gold, and it is clean and clear in the glass. The nose is full of malted barley, some brown sugar and vanilla and caramel. The bourbon cask is noticeable right from the start, those vanilla, brown sugar, and caramel notes that are typically associated with bourbon instead of a single malt Scotch. The nose is light though, the smells are there, but it isn’t quite as inviting and big as we were expecting. Taking the first sip, the first thing we noticed was a lot of the barley, soft and moving into some flavors of vanilla, creme brûlée, and a some hints of toasted coconut. The sip was very easy, not a lot of heat on it. The finish was crisp, but a little short.
We added a couple drops of water to the sip, and the brown sugar really came through on the nose. The water really brought out the bourbon notes. The Palate is the same way, brown sugar becoming a lot more prevalent, as well as the caramel really coming out. The flavors of creme brûlée and toasted coconut also are brought out, and the overall sip becomes a lot sweeter with the water. The finish hangs around a bit longer as well, and really makes the sip better overall.
We both agreed on the overall rating for this one, each of us giving it an 84/100. One that is definitely worth picking up, especially hanging around the $45 mark.
