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...
I usually drink Ardbeg 10 or Jura Superstition and this is nowhere near as nice as they are, but it's still a very drinkable whisky. A bit sharp and not very complex it does have a nice clean crispness to it. The flavour doesn't really hang around for long but at least if you don't like it there's no lingering aftertaste. I bought it because it was on offer and to be honest I wouldn't pay full price for it when there are better drams in the price range, but if you find it cheap or someone buys it for you, don't be a snob and just enjoy.
my wife bought my bottle for xmas and paid a premium price nz$140 its appalling and i had to lie to her iv enjoyed the 12yr old exclusively for many years no other whiskey would do so i cracked it with great anticipation truly its too disappointing to drink it gets half a star for the bottle mr winchester please explain
Not what I expected at all. Yes it's smooth, but it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste down the side of my tongue. It is no where near as good as the 10 or 12 year olds or the competition in the same price range . If this was the Founders Reserve no-one would have heard of Glenlivet. (Doesn't even taste good in coffee!)
Very smooth flavour of apples hint of honey
I received a bottle for Christmas and I was really looking forward to trying it. I had high hopes, perhaps an improvement on the 12 year? Or would it be complex like like Highland Park, with hints of toffee like Aberlour or sweet and sherried like Balvenie? I was utterly disappointed finding it to be slightly sweet with a harsh with an unpleasant almost 'industrial' aftertaste. Clearly the lack of an age indicates that this whisky is green and hasn't been properly matured. I certainly won't buy another bottle. I'm not even sure what to do with the one I have! I won't be drinking it. I'll either pour it away or worse still sacrilegiously use it as mixer its that bad!
