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The Glenlivet
Scotland
Single Malt
Glenlivet continue to release tasty single malt Scotch whisky matured in Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain, bottled at cask strength and without chill-filtration for their fantastic Nàdurra range! This one is from batch OL0615, which was bottled at 60.3% ABV.
Chocolate chips, crushed nuts and a generous handful of raisins (sounds a bit like a recipe for cookies). A very subtle whiff of smoke...
Red apples and dark chocolate in equal measures, with a hint of citrus and herbaceous liquorice.
Sherried spices become more pronounced on the finish.
So, the reviewer just below noses and tastes this cask-stength malt at 60.3% and then dilutes to 30% and complains about a very short finish and failure to develop. Look, I mean this in a friendly way, without animosity or sarcasm: please don't drown your malt. Yes, I believe in adding water, but go slow. Some malts need less than others. Sure, master blenders dilute way down to avoid being singed by ethanol vapors, but doesn't mean it's meant to be sipped that way. Alcohol is the solvent here, the vehicle. Aromatic molecules bind with ethanol molecules. Don't interfere with it delivering flavor and aroma to your senses. Add a teaspoon to your dram, try it. Then add another. You can add more, but once you cross the line and drown it, it's too late :) I've had 46% malts that needed 3 teaspoons of water to be just right (Arran 10), while others only take 1 (Deanston 12). I eyeballed the water in my dram of Deanston after my experience with Arran - and it was drowned :) My next several drams were excellent.
Color: orange gold Nose: • Before adding water -Raisins, liquorice, green grass, strong alcohol smell, custard, wet soil • After adding water- liquorice, Palate: Undiluted: sweet, mouth-watering, very intense, very spicy (dried chilies aroma), liquorice, woody (don’t know what wood). Short finish, Diluted (with a lot of water around 30% abv): sweet entry, spicy, bitter (dark chocolate), hints of orange Finish: Very short, fades very quickly even after addition of water Personally a average whisky, flavors have failed to develop even though its almost half way through the bottle (may need more time). Nose gives almost exclusively liquorice and raisins undiluted, and mostly liquorice when diluted. Taste is monotonous on palate, not overly exciting but very spicy even with lots of dilution. Finish is short, bitter at first but quickly loses its flavor and leaves with a charcoal flavor.
Good
I'm a big fan of The Glenlivet. The 12 year old was my first introduction to single malt whisky. I had high hopes when I opened this bottle. The tasting notes from MoM are once again right on. I gave it a 9 because it is so good for the price. Regardless of price, it is a fine whisky. I like it better than the Nadurra 16 year old that I had last year. I'm going to have to re-think my opinion about NAS whisky. Yes, there are more complex drams out there. However, this expression offers a bang for your buck ratio that is quite impressive. It's a little hot without water, probably due to it being a bit young, but water will open it up and make you happy. Worth a try.
Considering the price, you do get a lot of whisky for your money. I like this one better that the Nadurra first fill American oak. Feels a bit young, and it is not very complex, but it's tasty. Probably not a lot of first fill Oloroso casks went into the making of this one.