More Holiday Deals
The more I acquire precious and limited bottles of single malt whisky, the more I find myself unable to decide what to drink on a Thursday night. That very debacle happened to me last night. I finished off my serving of 1999 Barde Haut along side my grilled meat sampler from Tannourine, and found myself not quite ready to quit drinking. I moseyed over to the Driscoll bar to have a look at my current open selection of Scotch. The Naked Grouse was gone. I'd dusted that off a few nights back. I had plenty of Compass Box 5th & Harrison, but I didn't want anything that expensive (or smoky). I had a limited edition bottle of Bruichladdich that the boys had given me at the distillery this past September, but I didn't want to touch that. There were a few rare Japanese selections, but I try to save those for guests. I ended up going to bed, but not before promising to address the issue the following day.
Today, my answer to that problem arrived. The three standard editions of Glenrothes showed up with all new pricing and supreme drinkability for my increased holiday consumption requirements. I've always loved Glenrothes as it was the first bottle of single malt I ever purchased, but I hadn't bought a bottle in some time. After re-tasting the Peated Cask, Bourbon Cask, and Sherry Reserve selections, I couldn't make up my mind as to which one I wanted. They're all so creamy, supple, and easy to love. So I bought all three. For these new holiday prices, I can afford to:
Glenrothes "Peated Cask" Single Malt Whisky $34.99 (previously $49.99) - Not peated, but aged in casks that once held peated whisky, the Glenrothes Peated Cask expression is a soft and creamy Highland malt with soft and subtle overtones of campfire smoke that undulates between waves of caramel and sweet barley. Fans of Talisker and Highland Park might want to look here for a value sipper.
Glenrothes "Sherry Reserve" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky $34.99 (previously $49.99) - Glendronach 12 and Balvenie Doublewood have a serious new competitor, even without the age statement. The Glenrothes Sherry Reserve is full of that sweet, brown sugar-laden note of fresh Oloroso sherry right on the first sip, and it rounds out beautifully through the mid-palate, all the way through to the finish. It’s clean, malty, chewy, and full of classic Glenrothes character; just without any of that old style funk. I think it's just as good as Aberlour 12 Non-Chillfiltered, softer than Glendronach 12, and just plain better than Balvenie 12 Doublewood. I might make this my new house whisky for the next few months. A reminder of the olden days, but with a steamlined and polished new finish. Well done, Glenrothes. Well done, indeed.
Glenrothes "Bourbon Cask" Single Malt Whisky $34.99 (previously $49.99) - Classic Bourbon aged single malt in the manner of Glenmorangie 10 year or Glenlivet 12, but with more richness and texture than both of those whiskies and now for a similar price!
-David Driscoll