The perfect marriage of sun-aged grapes and cask-aged spirit, the latest lineup from The Glenrothes is a celebration of the distillation process and a treat for drinkers who like distinct flavor. This hands-on Scottish distillery has been crafting single malts since 1879, but the Soleo Collection is their first recent foray into age statements, and they were strict about the wood they picked. Ranging from 10 to 25 years old, the five unique Soleo whiskies were aged in sherry-seasoned oak and retain their original color, keeping the focus on the real effects of the maturation process.
The younger whiskies were matured in American oak, where they got their sweet hints of citrus, vanilla, and honey. Meanwhile, the 18 Year Old has spicier, darker flavors thanks to European casks with more tannins. Each Soleo Collection whisky is a nod to the aging process itself, starting with the grapes that matured under the Spanish sun to become the sherry that seasoned it so uniquely.