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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Favourite malt,tasty and mild with nice after notes.Recomend if you are not too keen on peaty whisky.
Insipid, lacking both maturity and complexity. Plus bottled at 40% ABV. This is a poor replacement for the 12-year-old Glenlivet. Disappointing.
Though a fan of the glenlivet 12yo, the founder reserve gives a completely different experience. This particular whiskey is sweet. Whilst being like vanilla in the initial sip, the aftertaste is woody, the closest take i can think of is a matrimony of brazil nut and banana. Sure, an odd likening but definitely not unpleasant.
I see a lot of negative reviews (which are well-argumented), has the taste changed at some point? I loved mine, it was my favourite of the recent whiskeys I've had.
Some reviews seem to favour blended whiskeys and describe this as a disgrace... single malts to me are well above blended whiskeys in terms of character and flavour in my opinion. As a young whiskey drinker I favour this over most, this is my go to single malt after Penderyn Madeira cask which I favour over any. This is a very smooth whisky with a sweet caramel taste which rolls out to a smooth oaky linger. The nose is a crisp and sharp woody scent. A sweet whisky with no foul aftertastes or burns. I don’t like smokey whiskeys and this one is far from smokey! Give it a try, we’ll worth its money and ahead in taste compared to most commercially available whiskeys.
