A now discontinued bottle of Glenrothes Select Reserve. This non-vintage single malt was selected by malt master John Ramsay and bottled up at 43% ABV.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
I'm a great fan of The Glenrothes vintage editions, and the Select Reserve is a poor match. Do yourself a favour, and try a vintage edition the next time; and don't forget to add a little spring water after pouring, it really does make a difference.
The nose and palate are quite toffee-y (some caramel and dried apples as well), but at the same time it has that moonshine flavour that is hard to accept. Thus, the balance is a bit off. Too spirity.
On the nose, very strong vanilla with fruit. On the palate, a fleeting taste of something that reminded me of the smell of baby vomit (of which I've had a fair experience) but that was instantly displaced by something much more pleasant - a fairly complex depth and toasted sweetness that I wasn't expecting, finishing with a tang that I don't recognise (although I have no idea what a mocchaccino is). I generally prefer more peaty darkness and smoke, but this is a perfectly acceptable malt when not indulging in something Cuban (leaf, not heels).
There are a couple of reasons why i give this whisky such a high rating. 1: Because i think this is by far the best whisky for any beginner, it`s so unbalievable smooth. 2: in the netherlands this is the best value for money you can get, i got this bottle for 26 euro. 3: It`s underated on this website, because some people gave it a half star, that just doesn`t make any sense. 4: I have never had any guest who didn`t like a glass from the select reserve, instead most people love it.
The scotch that got me into scotch. Amazing for the price, it has the complexities of much more expensive single malts. Great shaped bottle too.
