New Release: Glenrothes 2004-2015 11 Year Old Kingsbary Gold #11519

I think this is a typical example of good young sherry cask whiskies in recent years. Glenrothes GLENROTHES 2004-2015 11yo KINGSBURY GOLD #11519 58.0% One of 588 bottles, SHERRY PUNCHEON Although it's a recent release, it gives a sense of thickness from European oak sherry, berry jam, bitter chocolate-covered orange, caramel, American coffee, herbs, clove, nuts, and a rich variety of flavors. When drinking, it starts with a smooth mouthfeel that expands powerfully, featuring concentrated plums, raisins, bitter chocolate, herbal liqueur, a touch of green plant notes, intense sweetness balanced by tannins and bitterness, solid woody characteristics, complex and deep flavors with a thick body and long finish. 【Good/Very Good】 New release from Kingsbary, Glenrothes 2004, 11-year-old maturation. Labeled as sherry puncheon, it has an extremely dark color. From the start, it delivers a rich sherry cask aroma as expected. The diverse aromas often found in first-fill sherries, such as berry jam, bitter chocolate, caramel, coffee, herbs, and spices, are strongly pronounced. It's likely a first-fill sherry cask. Although it's short-matured, the barrel influence is clearly present. When drinking, despite its viscosity, it has a surprisingly smooth mouthfeel for its specs. However, as a young malt, it expands powerfully from there. The sherry cask influence is evident, allowing enjoyment of its concentrated sweetness and bitterness that deepen the flavor. Slightly immature roughness is noticeable, but with its diversity and depth, it's a rich sherry malt that offers satisfying drinking experience. As with peated whiskies, I've previously noted that sherry-influenced malts are often drinkable even when young. However, there's naturally variation in sherry quality. This is a highly accomplished example among recent high-quality sherries, with no raw woody smell and already delicious. Although some roughness remains, it's expected to positively evolve through bottle aging. I'm very much looking forward to its future development. Good sherry casks are rare, and while some currently mediocre ones might improve over time, it takes courage to stock those that may not improve. In that sense, such already delicious sherry casks like this are exactly what should be stocked now. While drinking at the bar, we compared it to a baseball player who graduated high school and was drafted first overall—meaning it's ready for immediate play but also has potential for further growth. That analogy seemed perfect. #Glenrothes (GLENROTHES)