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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Forget some of the damning reviews of what is actually a delicate and yet tasteful single malt. With freshness on the palate and a back note of heat, for the price point in the market this is aimed at, it’s not to be overlooked.
Seriously? If you're naming something 'Founder's reserve' expectations are justifiably going to be high. This is really not good. Just sweet notes and then nothing but alcohol burn. Usually MoM tasting notes are pretty spot on, but this time it feels like they've just picked random words.... Nice packaging though.
Heresy, true, but when stripped of custom involving fruits and noses, walnuts and bumble berries, this is one delightfully smooth sipping malt - especially, if occasionally, (shoot me now), over a little ice.
Let us begin with the fact that more than a few drams ago, I began my Scotch Malt journey by visiting a bottle of Glenlivet 12. For many years and scotch progressions since, always referring to the flagship 12 as the "Nectar of the Gods". Indeed, Glenlivet 12 was my first true love Malt. One day while at the Spirits Store, that happened to be "sold out" of my G12, I instead purchased a bottle of Founders Reserve. I was shocked by what I tasted. Too dry and alien to all expectations
Normally I’m ok with the “new” NAS versions of established malts some can be surprisingly good (e.g. Dalwhinnie Winters Gold), most are decent if slightly less interesting/complex than the regular 12/10 yo bottlings. But this is a bit of a shocker to be honest! The regular 12yo is a staple in the cabinet, so I’ve never bought this before. But the 12yo has been out of stock round here and this was on offer so I’ve given it ago - and tasted it twice to be sure. It is very sweet (almost Cardhu like), not a huge problem, but there’s some rough oak and a quite nasty fiery burn on the finish. It’s almost more like a poor young Bourbon than a malt - guess the age, I’d be surprised if this is more than 5 or 6. I am shocked at how rough this is - really shocked.
