30.125 Honey Lavender Popcorn

Glenrothes 11 Year Old 2013, Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 30.125 Honey Lavender Popcorn, is a single cask single malt Scotch from the Glenrothes distillery in the Speyside region (SMWS distillery code 30). Distilled on 3 June 2013, it was matured for 11 years for six years in a refill oloroso butt and then in a first-fill ex-bodega oloroso butt and bottled at a natural cask strength of 66% ABV, with an outturn of just 506 bottles. The Society places it in its Deep, rich & dried fruits flavour profile, and its Tasting Panel describes a smooth, sweet sherried dram of honeycomb, lavender and dried fruit. Like every SMWS bottling it is presented at cask strength without chill filtration, and the label carries the Society's cask code rather than the distillery name.

Nose: Cinder toffee, waxy honeycomb, fig rolls and calligraphy ink; water brings peach cobbler and Dundee cake

Palate: Well rounded: lavender, honey, nutmeg and raisin purée with marmalade on custard tarts; water adds sultanas, lavender popcorn and cask char

Serve: Neat first, then with a few drops of water to open it up; at full cask strength it rewards patience.