Glenrothes 1993 "Kumquat Cluster" (Wemyss Malts)

Glenrothes 1993 "Kumquat Cluster", 21 YO, 46 %

It is not very often that we come across independent bottlings of Glenrothes. But here we have one of those, from independent bottler Wemyss Malts. The Glenrothes 1993 "Kumquat Cluster" was distilled in 1993, matured in a sherry butt, and ultimately bottled in 2014. The total outturn was 730 bottles.

You might be wondering what a kumquat is; well it is an Asian orange like fruit related to the citruses, with an edible sweet rind and acid pulp.

This whisky was released by Wemyss malts in March 2015. It is not yet available to buy in Norway or Sweden, but I expect it will be released in May or June this year.

Nose (21/25): Mild sherry notes and oak. Sprinkles of dry sawdust, citrus and vanilla. A touch of boiled vegetables perhaps. Becomes more warm on the nose after a few minutes. Comforting and familiar. Give it a long time in the glass and you might find cinnamon and nutmeg.

Taste (20/25): White pepper, banana, ginger, oranges and caramel. Hard to detect any sherry influence here. This must be a well-used cask.

Finish (22/25): Slightly metallic towards the end. The oaky spices on the finish work very well. A very nice landing.

Balance (21/25): The finish was the highlight here. A fair bit of cask influence, in a positive way - especially towards the finish line.

Score (84/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas