Dràm Mòr is a new independent bottler on the market, with a current four bottle offering: This Glenrothes 10 year old, Glen Garioch 8 year old, Caol Ila 6 year old and a sherry finished Benriach, offered at 11 years of age, after a two year finish in Oloroso sherry casks. The bottler offers single casks, bottled at cask strength.
The Glenrothes is also finished in an Oloroso, and the way this expression presents, actually got me thinking about why I enjoyed this finish so much. Obviously, a finish can be used when the initial cask isn’t overly good, to try and fix the whisky. This is not the case here, as the original characteristics of the bourbon cask were carefully preserved. This is an example of a good cask, that was given just the right amount of extra character by laying another layer of aromas and flavors to compliment the first. Thinking about this dram, I can say that I enjoyed it because of the restraint shown in the finish.
Dràm Mòr Glenrothes 10 Year Old, Oloroso Finish, Cask 5280 (58% ABV, NCF, NC)
Appearance: Bronze, thin legs coming off a sturdy necklace
Nose: Wood spice, with cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of dried fruit, mainly raisins and dried fig. This Glenrothes is nutty, with toffee and sherry sweetness. Honestly, when I think of a sherry finished whisky, this is right what I would hope for, with the vanilla very present, and butterscotch aplenty and the sherry forming another full layer of dried fruit and light wood spice.
Water takes it more toward the fruitiness and the wood.
palate: starts off sweet, with a wash of spice. There’s a bit of dried fruit, going into some wood bitterness before turning again toward spiciness, ending with a wash of milk chocolate. Water brings out a little more Woodiness.
Linger: Sweet dried fruit, cinnamon and some clove on the tongue that remains spicy on the tongue, mixing with the sweetness that stays on for a long time. There’s quiet a bit of spice down the gullet.
Conclusion
This Glenrothes is quite a lovely sipper, a very nice lighter Sherry, that had just the right of time in the finishing cask so it is more on the vanilla/butterscotch side than the dried fruit and deep wood spice, yet has them present.