Category: Glenlivet | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

April 13, 2017July 5, 2017

Tasting: Glenlivet 33 yo 1974-2008 by Gordon & MacPhail

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Distilled: 1974
Bottled: 18.02.2008
Age: 33
Limitation: 726 bottles
Casks: 3 sherry hogsheads
Alcohol: 43%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

I know posts have been far and few between lately – I’m very busy at the moment juggling different tasks, so please bear with me. Since it’s been a while, let’s make this tasting count. Glenlivet from 12 years before I was born? Don’t mind if I do!

Tasting notes:
Colour: red amber
The nose immediately brings a smile on my face. Proper, aged whisky. I’m repeating myself here, there are many truly excellent young whiskies, but there is absolutely no substitute for time. You cannot produce this style of whisky in 5, 10, 15, 20 years, no matter what the marketing guys want you to believe. Older whisky doesn’t mean better, but when it’s right, it’s right! Oh, sorry, I digressed a little. On the nose then… we’ve got a fragrant mix of spices up front. We’re talking mulled wine spices. Cinnamon, cloves, allspice, that sort of thing, but not fresh and sharp, but on their second infusion. The spices are paired with quite a bit of oak wood concentrate, just bordering on too much (I hope this won’t show up too harsh on the palate) and loads of dark, dried fruit notes in the background (rum-infused plums, predominately). Also in the background are notes of Demerara sugar, chocolate cake, slightly burnt toffee, toasted walnuts and sweet vanilla pipe tobacco. All in all a very nice combination of intense, thick aromas. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenlivet 33 yo 1974-2008 by Gordon & MacPhail”

November 9, 2016November 8, 2016

Blind tasting: Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yo batch 0614C

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: June 2014
Age: 16 years
Limitation: –
Casks: 1st fill ex-bourbon
Alcohol: 55,2%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Oh, a mystery whisky! I love tasting mystery whiskies – even if there’s a chance I’ll make an utter fool of myself, but that’s part of the game! Let’s dig in!

Tasting notes:
Colour: apple juice
The nose is pleasant and light on the first nose with a hint of alcohol dominating. Light vanilla, red apples and red pears, strawberries, dried pineapple, summer honey, candyfloss and dextrose sugar pieces for athletes with added lemon aroma and heather tips. With time and careful nosing there’s quite a lot going on here, creating a summer-dram profile. Not too much oak influence, if you asked me I’d put this at about 10 years. My first intuition says Highlands (or maybe Speyside). A very clean and unobtrusive style of whisky – a Glenmorangie with more oomph than the 10yo or a slightly richer Glenlivet? Something along those lines. Even if it’s not, that’s what it reminds me of and it smells familiar. Definitely modern whisky and I’m 99,9% sure it’s Scotch malt whisky (leaving a tiny margin of error open, because, well, you never know, blind tastings are funny things). On to the palate now! Continue reading “Blind tasting: Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yo batch 0614C”

June 23, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glenlivet 12yo vs. Founder’s Reserve

Blind Tasting Challenge - NAS vs. age statement

In early 2015 whisky blogger and malt maniac Oliver Klimek set out to do a wide-scale comparison between NAS and age statement expressions, all done blind and with 35 tasters per pair of whisky. The results are very interesting with a near-draw between the entry-level malts and their NAS counterparts. Head over to his site dramming.com for all details on the challenge and the results!

Here are my original tasting notes on the thirdd pair of whiskies: The Glenlivet 12yo vs. their NAS Founder’s Reserve. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A3A: Glenlivet 12yo
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-2015
Age: 12yo
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chillfiltered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose opens with a delicate, sweet note of vanilla and honey. Summer fruits as well, although subdued. Oranges, sweet pears, red apples, ripe white grapes and a slight spice (ginger?) in the background Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glenlivet 12yo vs. Founder’s Reserve”

February 1, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenlivet 1996-2013 16y by Signatory Vintage

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Signatory Vintage Unchillfiltered Collection
Distilled: 13.05.1996
Bottled: 03.05.2013
Age: 16
Limitation: 774 bottles
Casks: First Fill Sherry Butt 79239
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light-ish gold
The nose is odd for a first-fill Sherry Butt. No in your face sherry notes. Hardly any sherry notes at all. This definitely wasn’t a “wet” cask when it was filled – maybe it was even rinsed or steam-cleaned? Hard to tell apart from a 1st fill ex-bourbon cask, to be honest – maybe this was even a Butt made from American oak? Okay, on to the notes now: Quite a bit of alcohol initially. Toffee and caramel pudding with a dash of vanilla (which could indicate European oak but it’s not that obvious…)
Continue reading “Tasting: Glenlivet 1996-2013 16y by Signatory Vintage”