Glenlivet 12 is the largest selling single malt in the world. Glenlivet 18 is one of the best 18 year old whiskies in the market. Glenlivet original bottling also has a 21 ans 25 yo. This is the 25yo bottled in 2020 that I tasted.
Colour: Brick
Nose: This is not fully matured in sherry casks but finished for 3 years in Oloroso sherry casks & diluted to 43% ABV. Sweet and warm spices fill the nose followed by some dry fruits, dark chocolates & maltiness fill the nose.
Palate: Burst of flavours but very silky and lilting. Rounded and a lot mellowed. The lower ABV of 43% makes it quite easy to drink. Vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, cloves sift through some dark chocolates, honey oats and dates. A higher ABV like 48-50% could have been better but slightly a different topic that one. Marzipan, black cardamom, cloves, powdered cinnamon, honey fill the palate.
Finish: Not too dry. Sherry sweetness and spiciness linger. Long finish.
A silky vintage whisky. But compared to the old editions, the ‘sherry’ influence is much lighter. Need to evolve to let the vintage feel and flavours come out.
