Review #251: SMWS Glenrothes 14 yr old 30.87 A Skinny Dipping Dram

Speyside - 14 - NCF - NCA - $130 - 55.6%

This Single Malt Whisky Society bottling is Glenrothes aged 14 years in a port pipe.  I have only had sherried Glenrothes so this will be a little different.  I tend to like wine finishes so lets see how the juice tastes.  However, this is full maturation so that should be interesting.  

Color - Tawny.  

Nose - Grape, vanilla, caramel, chocolate milk, treacle - The grape smell quickly dissipated into chocolate - with water - dates and sulphur come into the nose

Palate - Chocolate, stewed white fruit, toffee - with water - Not much change

Finish - Medium -  (Hot and rough) Chocolate, leather, ginger, pepper - with water - The heat goes away making this palatable.  Chardonnay and orange peel come into the finish

Overall - 5 - This is far from what I pictured for a full maturation in a port pipe.  Besides the initial whiff on the nose, it has no real port flavors. Without water, the finish on this was rough and hot, and I am used to cask strength.  With water is drinkable, but not exciting or complex.  For me, this is a pass.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16