Glenrothes Bourbon Reserve

The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve is an unusual expression from a distillery much better known for its extensive use of sherry-seasoned oak. Originally sold as The Glenrothes Alba Reserve, it was renamed Bourbon Cask Reserve around 2015. The whisky is matured exclusively in American oak bourbon casks, creating a lighter, brighter and more vanilla-driven Glenrothes than the distillery's traditional sherry-influenced releases.

The nose offers vanilla, fresh coconut, citrus and almond, followed by apple and pear. On the palate it is soft and approachable, with vanilla cream, toffee, orchard fruit, grapefruit and tropical-fruit accents. The finish is gently sweet, with lingering vanilla, citrus and light oak. Whisky Advocate scored it 85 points, highlighting almond cream, lemon curd, coconut, kumquat, apple, pear and toffee. 

Cask / Aging Program

This is really the defining feature of the expression. Bourbon Cask Reserve is matured exclusively in American oak bourbon-seasoned casks, using both first-fill/fresh and refill barrels. There is no sherry-cask component and no secondary finish. That makes it something of an outlier in the Glenrothes range and accounts for its distinctly pale, vanilla-and-coconut-forward style. 

It is also worth noting that Bourbon Cask Reserve is no longer part of Glenrothes' current core lineup, although bottles remain available in the U.S. market. 

Details

• Distillery: The Glenrothes
• Region: Speyside, Scotland
• Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Age: NAS
• Cask Program: 100% American oak bourbon casks
• Casks: Fresh/first-fill & refill bourbon casks
• Sherry Casks: None
• Finish: None
• ABV: 40%
• Proof: 80
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Former Name: Glenrothes Alba Reserve
• Kosher: Yes / certified kosher