First revealed towards the end of 2014, the Founder's Reserve single malt Scotch whisky is now available in the UK and will be replacing The Glenlivet 12 year old in many of the mature markets despite initial indications that it would sit beside it, broadening the entry-level options. Named in tribute to distillery founder George Smith, it's packaged in Georgian blue.
Some dates then what at first appears to be a touch of salinity, but is better described as a slightly sharp plum and apricot wine note. There's orange zest, toffee, hints of struck match and chocolate raisins, but before this starts to sound 'Sherried' there's also pear drops, a dusting of sweet cinnamon, honeysuckle and sweet pea.
Fruity, then sweet, more toffee, a touch of anise, then into milk chocolate Flakes, banoffee pie and apple turnovers.
Creamy toffee to the fore now, a little oak and sweet barley sugar warmth too. Milk chocolate raisins linger.
Perhaps a little sweet, but it would work well with ice where the sweetness would be slightly suppressed - and before you shudder with disgust, Alan Winchester said that he liked his with a little ice sometimes too. And if it's good enough for the Master Distiller...
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Pernod Ricard do the product The Glenlivet a great disservice with this product.It would be interesting to know what the AYS of this bottling is but the company seem reluctant to devulge this information when asked.
This Whiskey is the bomb, greatest thing since sliced bread. Good job
Yer gets wot yer pays for. Discounted massively at Co-op(!) this is a cheap whisky for good reason. It is pleasant enough but just bland, with limited impression on the palate and after it vanishes without trace. What a pity that such an old established and respectable distillery should be willing to debase its product. The owners will probably - hopefully - rue the day.
There is nothing to this. The faintest of short-lived afertastes, a cloying, un-natural sweetness to start and nothing else. There is a nice mouth-feel which I am certain has been deliberately engineered to mask the inferiority of this......liquid. Yet another insult from an industry which seems determined to ruin its centuries-old reputation. George Smith would be appalled at the misuse of his name.
This an ok whisky. It doesn't really have anything that makes it stand out from a very crowded market. I would rather spend a similar amount on a Glenfarclas 10 y.o. for a better representation of a Speyside.
