The Glenrothes Alba Reserve

By Barry Bradford on July 24, 2015 • ( 1 Comment )

The Glenrothes Alba Reserve (40%, OB, 2015)

Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
Origin: Glenrothes Distillery
Bottling: Berry Bros & Rudd
Abv: 40%
Cost: £39.95

What they say

The Glenrothes normal wood policy uses a combination of Spanish and American oak, seasoned with sherry, bourbon and malt Scotch. Not so the Alba Reserve.

For this expression John Ramsay has used Glenrothes matured exclusively in American oak refill bourbon casks. It therefore delivers coconut and vanilla in abundance, and is soft and mellow with a crème brulée flavour and feel.

Quercus Alba is the Latin name for White (or American) oak; and Alba is the Gaelic word for Scotland.

Official tasting notes:

Appearance: Pale straw, clear and bright
Bouquet: Fresh, floral, coconut, American oak vanilla
Palate: Soft mellow, creme brulee and berry fruits
Finish: Smooth, sweet, medium length

What I say

Sample B1B from the recent NAS vs age statement blind-tasting see The Great Age Statement Debate and Photo Finish Between Age Statement And NAS Whisky In Big Blind Tasting.

This NAS Glenrothes expression was compared directly with Glenrothes 1998 Vintage ~ 43% (Maxxium UK Ltd.) which we have previously sampled and scored 84/100 though in the blind tasting this dropped to 82/100.

My tasting notes:

Colour: Eiswein and antique gold (8/20) medium trails and numerous small droplet tears
Nose: New make, light acetone (nail polish remover), softer vanilla and fairy cake mixture, sponge cake, vanilla and sickly sweet / eggy? a neutral-sweet honey e.g. oilseed rape honey
Taste: Thin/watery in mouthfeel, vanilla sponge cake batter, cereal barley flour, a little sour and acrid, mouthwash in feel, vanilla egg custard and banana milkshake
Finish: Short and mid-sweet, vanilla

Overall

I found this expression unimpressive, Paula liked the nose of this one much more than the 1998 vintage as it was simple, sweet and vanilla, I found it definitely improved after breathing with some of the spirit/new make elements fading, but I much preferred the 1998 vintage with its more complex and full-bodied palate.