Speyside

Glen Rothes 1999
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
The Unchillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage

46% ABV
$74
Website

What the Bottle Says

Distilled at GLEN ROTHES Distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1999
Aged: 18 years
Distilled on: 19.11.1999 (Nov 19, 1999)
Bottled on: 04.06.2018 (Jun 4th, 2018)
Matured in: Hogshead
Cask No: 12582
Bottle No: 49

Due to no chillfiltration, this whisky may turn cloudy when stored in a cool place. It is both more full bodied and full flavoured.
Natural Colour

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honeyed malt, vanilla, not-quite-ripe peaches, almonds, hint of grapefruit rind with some floral notes.
Palate:  Sweet peaches in honey with a nutty spice kicking in, subtle with hints of dried apricots, milk chocolate and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, a hint of oak and pepper spice.
Comments:  Glenrothes or Glen Rothes? Per their web-site, it is ‘Glenrothes’, but listing it as it is labeled on the bottle (not sure if I’m helping avoid confusion, or creating it unnecessarily). Anywho, this is a very smooth and subtle pour – nothing really ‘jumps out’ to me. A great price for an 18 yr single malt, although age isn’t everything. This is the first Glenrothes I’ve had the pleasure of trying, and apparently ‘honey’ is squarely in their house style, which I definitely picked up.

Rating: Stands Out

Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt 40 Years Old

46% ABV
$500 (when released; current 43% retails for $900+)
Website

What the Distillery Says

Tasting Notes
Colour: Autumn Gold.
Nose: The Glenfarclas 40 Years Old, now at 43%, has a fresh sweetness and fruity Turkish delight aroma on the nose. Its freshness and power is similar to the first time you open a bag of freshly ground java coffee beans.
Flavour: Sweet taste, followed by a peppering of caramel and chocolate explosions. Sherry power creeping its way to the back of your mouth releasing dark chocolate, raisins and sultanas.
Finish: It ends with a sweet, crisp, dry & lingering finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick, intense fruitcake and mincemeat pie full of raisins, figs, stewed apples, pears, plums in an old English library; old leather furniture, pipe tobacco and musty smoke.
Palate:  Rich sherried fruit, coffee cake, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, oak, dark chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering raisins, clove and oak.
Comments:  Damn this pour is dark! This is one of those drams where I actually prefer nosing it over drinking it. Don’t get me wrong – nothing offputting on the palate (for 40 yrs old, the oak isn’t as prominent as I’d expect – which I appreciate!) The nose is probably in my top 5 favorites with such depth, complexity and balance. The palate is very nice, but not in my top 5 – and or even top 10. Don’t get me wrong – it is really good, but less complex than the nose led me to expect. This sample was from the higher-proof version (this was first released at 46%, not sure when they brought it down to 43%), and from what I’ve read this was initially a bargain at around $500 (currently much more). That’s a lotta cheddar for a bottle of whiskey – although thankfully since I like smelling it more than drinking it, I’m gonna stretch this sample out for a while..

Rating: Stands Out

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Red Wine Cask Finish
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website
NOTE: If the link above takes you to their homepage, scroll down and select “United Kingdom” as the country.

What the Distiller Says

We created the third expression in our Age of Discovery Collection to commemorate the 1831 voyage of the HMS Beagle. The Beagle travelled around the globe and landed on the east coast of South America, allowing Charles Darwin to collect fossils that would lead to the development of his famous theory of evolution.

Aged 19 years, this edition is finished in oak casks that were once used to produce the complex, velvety wines of South America. The result is an extraordinarily rich single malt with exceptional smoothness, complemented by warm, spicy notes.

Celebrating the spirit of discovery, this expression can be found exclusively in selected Travel Retail outlets.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Rich gold with a hint of ruby.
NOSE: Toasted marshmallow with red berry and vanilla oak tannin. Ripe fruits and a hint of woody spice.
TASTE: Spicy notes on first taste, deep and smooth with a velvety sweetness. Rich oak notes and berry sweetness.
FINISH: Sweet with a long, lingering tannin.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dried fruit, specifically berries and grapes, toffee, leather and subtle smoke.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet, grapes, cherries and dark fruit, bits of chocolate, vanilla, pecans, and a hint of ginger.
Finish:  Moderately long, a tad drying but still on the sweet side.
Comments: This was the biggest departure of the three, with more influence from the cask finish standing out. Quite nice with the fruit notes prominent, and easy to drink. If you’re not wanting to explore the subtle differences of the three, and are just looking for one that is more unique – this would be the one I’d pick; although the price tag is a little steep for me.

Rating: Stands Out