Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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The Glenlivet

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Glenlivet distillery
Glenlivet Distillery
Ballindaloch
Banffshire
AB37 9DB
+44 1542 783 220

Owner: Pernod-Ricard
Creation date1824

Photos

The family of George Smith was producing whisky in the valley of the Livet for ages. Their name was "Gow" till they preferred changing in it "Smith" after a lost battle against England. When the Excise Act which made it possible to produce legal whisky was promulgated in1823, George Smith was the first one who applied for such a licence. He got his licence in 1824 and began distilling legally in his farm. The Duke of Gordon, landlord and father of the Excise Act was very pleased to see the results of this first legal distillery. But the moonshine distillers were not so happy. Some of them even threaten him with death, and the Duke of Gordon lent him 2 shotguns, which still can be seen in the visitor centre of the distillery.
His son, James Gordon Smith founded a distillery named Delnabo near Tomintoul in 1849. He was not really successful, and George took over his son's distillery, and renamed it Cairngorn.
In 1858, George and James joined together to build a bigger distillery near Minmore, where the present distillery is settled. Both of the distilleries owned by the family were closed and demolished. The new distillery was nearby the railway, which facilitates lots of things for a distillery. The commercial success was also due to the exclusive distributor, Andrew Usher & Co who is by the way the inventor of the blended whisky with the unchanging consistency which made the success of blends.
In the 1880's, The Glenlivet was so famous that some other unscrupulous distillers began to use its name on their own bottlings.John Gordon Smith went to court and won partially his case. He was the only one who was authorized to use the name of Glenlivet without any other added word. His distillery became then "The Glenlivet", but others had the right to add the name Glenlivet to their own name. The trademark was registered in 1870.
The current owner of the distillery would like to go further, and oblige his competitors to abandon the name of Glenlivet in the name of their distillery. To make an example, he renamed one of the distilleries belonging to his group from Braes of Glenlivet in Braeval.
Glenlivet merged with Glen Grant in 1853. In 1958 a fire destroyed the original buildings.
In the early 70's, Glenlivet and Glen Grant acquired the Longmorn distillery to become "The Glenlivet Distillers" taken over in 1977 by the Seagram group.
The distilleries belonging to the "Chivas and Glenlivet Group", property of Seagram, were bought by the Pernod-Ricard group on 19 december 2001.
The only period where The Glenlivet had to close was the second world war, because of a lack of barley.
Besides the marketing as single malt, the whisky is used form premium blends like Chivas Regal and Royal Salute

 Glenlivet: official bottlings
 

Glenlivet

12 years

Age
12 years
Alcohol percentage
40,0 %
Bottler
Official
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
76/100
 
 The colour is pale gold and the fresh and floral nose is marked by citrus fruit (lemon).
The palate, dry, light and mellow reveals some flower, fruit (citrus, peach) and vanilla hints. The finish, from average lengths finishes on malt touches.
 A slight malted and acidulate smell let easily categorize this whisky among those of the Speyside area. Not really complex. The palate confirms the nose. A good whisky, but a little "flat" compared to other malts from this area. The finish, short, is not unforgettable. A good bottle, certainly considering its price. A low entry bottle which gives quite a good idea of what single malt is, but without all the richness which makes a very good single malt.
70/100
The second nosing was also marked by this slightly acid hint (citrus fruit - sweet lemon). The palate felt the same acidity, rather straight, without complexity, but however rather pleasant. A short finish, coming back to the malt with still the presence of sweet citrus fruit.
70/100

Comment by

Henrik Johansson

Appearance: Bright yellow, new gold. Nose: Mellow and peppery. Floral, leafy, fresh fruit, new wood. Flavour: The mouth feel is very clean and creamy, smooth textures. Salty and smooth to begin with, then leathery with a whiff of spring fruits. Salty and sharper towards the end. Leather lingers in the finnish. Development: Best drink fast. After an hour in the air the aromas have reduced significantly in intensity and developed a feeling of spilled ale. Comments: An exceptionally smooth and pleasant dram. The best 12 year old Speyside malt I've tried.

87/100

Comment by

Johannes Sauer

Colour: Bright golden amber, colour added.
Nose: Very soft but attractive, vanilla and white chocolate backed by an easy and not disturbing but very enriching spritty note (furniture polish). Also dried figs and a very nice and soft musty note (dusty attic).
Taste: Very nice, rich and creamy on the palate. Latte machiato with caramel and chocolate syrup. Fulfilling and rich, very nice balanced between sweet white sugar and more dry wooden notes.
Finish:Still sweet and creamy but surprisingly quick for a 12yo retarding and flattening out.
Conc.: A nice dram after and a great cigar malt with an allright price ratio, easy, uncomplicated and not at all demanding.
Date: 29. December 2010
Price in Germany: ca 29 Euro

79/100
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Glenlivet

American Oak matured

Age
12 years
Alcohol percentage
40,0 %
Bottler
Official
Cask
American Oak
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
78/100
 
 After maturation in traditional oak casks, the whisky has been transferred in specially selected casks made from American oak, which were burned inside.
The time time gives the whisky matured in those conditions its unique touches of subtly balanced vanilla and other complex characteristics of this excellent Speyside malt.
 The Glenlivet is not characterized by eccentric maturation experiences. The distillery is for years and years THE reference of Speyside single malts, and its whisky has always had an amazing price-quality ratio. Also this bottle, matured in new (first burned inside) American oak casks follows the same rule. Very sweet, the whisky is amazing by its long and pleasant finish. I really recommend this bottle.
79/100
The floral nose reveals some slightly acid hints on a background of malt. In the palate, this whisky is rather sweet and relatively complex, but remains dominated by the floral character of the first nosing. The finish is rather long and dry, slightly bitter.
79/100
The nose is slightly spiced with floral hints on a background of vanilla and malt. The mouth is less interesting than the nose was, but is however rather complex, with tastes of malt to sweet citrus fruit through fruity but quite insipid fruity hints. The finish is rathre long, fruity and is characterized by a kind of acidity contrasting with the palate which was rather sweet (even too sweet).
74/100
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Glenlivet

French Oak Finish

Age
12 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Official
Cask
French Oak
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links & average quote
79/100
 
 This whisky finishes its maturation in new Limousin oak casks, which are used for maturation of Cognac. The characteristic of french oak is coarse grained, which gives the whisky a distinct character, well balanced with hazelnuts and spice touches.
The colour is amber, the nose is rich with flower hints and a perfumed sweetness which gives an impression of spices in the palate. The taste is dry with hazelnuts hints.
The finish is pleasant, slightly spicy.
Undoubtedly a great quality bottle, however may be too much balanced. A great sweetness, slightly honeyish is the first nose impression. The palate has the same impression, but the honey gets more spicy, pleasant. A average finish crowns the whole and the feeling of having drunken a good whisky stays for minutes. Also a very good price-quality ratio.
74/100
A sweet nose, with very pleasant hints of hazelnuts and ripe fruits, an a bit later on spicy ones (sweet pepper). In the palate, the same impressions, a great sweetness without any aggressiveness, with a quite nice hazelnut taste on the background and a subtle complexity, varying from very slight acid notes to some delicious sweet hints. The finish is rather short but quite pleasant too.
84/100
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Glenlivet

15 years

Age
15 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Official
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
79/100
 
 The Glenlivet 15 years old is an unique mix of rich fruity aromas and refined spring flowers fragrances.
Very sweet in the palate with a long and smooth finish, this is an excellent edition.
All the refinement expected from a great Speyside single malt is in this bottle. The nose recognizes lots of sweet and perfumed hints. Very well balanced. The taste of this whisky is wonderfully balanced, with the right touches of honey, malt and sweet fruit. A very good finish, unfortunately too short. It's a pity because one would really like to enjoy it longer.
84/100
A rather full nose, with sweet and pleasant floral smells/ In the palate, a kind of bitter acidity, balanced by some background malted sweetness. A pleasant but too short finish, allying bitterness to sweetness.
79/100
The nose is rather discrete and floral, without any aggressivity nor suprise. A sweet smell of flowers. In the mouth, the same smoothness dominates, withs slightly woody notes. A nice balance. The finish is in the same spirit, smooth and pleasant. Not too short, and smooth, just like the rest.
79/100
The pleasant nose is rather linear and marked by malted barley and spices (pepper). The smell palette is not very wide. The mouth is sweet even if some slightly acid hints sometimes enhance the whole which remains rather flat, surprise less. Barley, homey, sweetness, no surprise. The finish is of average quality in both its length and its "colour". A consensual whisky without any surprise.
74/100
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Glenlivet

18 years

Age
18 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Official
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
80/100
 
 The colour is deep gold, nose floral with sweetness and spices.The palate detects fruit and long acid touches .
 The smell reveals undoubtedly a Speyside. With all ingredients. The first impression in the mouth is that there is some lack of smoothness. I found it rough. As all my tasting happen blind, and because I quote the whisky before I know from which distillery it comes, I was disappointed to notice I just gave 15 to a Glenlivet, and to an 18 years old Glenlivet... I guess it deserves another tasting...
70/100
The second tasting was completely different. The nose is rather rich and spicy. The palate is complex and rather smooth (unlike my impression at the first tasting). A rather long finish. A good bottle.
84/100
The nose is rich and complex and reveals nice floral notes, with a hint of spices. In the palate, the same complexity without any aggressiveness and a mix of malted sweetness and some slightly spiced notes. A nice finish, not too long however, with spicy and woody hints. A very good bottle.
84/100
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Glenlivet

Archive, 15 years

Collection
Archive
Age
15 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Official
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
79/100
 
 There is a tradition that the still master reserves some casks he considers as exceptional in the distillery "archive", and this casks are bottled when the still master retires.
The Glenlivet is one of the best distilleries from Scotland, and this special edition, called Archive, selected by the still master is in the rule. An excellent Speyside. I consider the whiskies from this area as extremely smooth and balanced and I estimate they have some lack of character, compared to Island or Highland whisky. That's why the quotation in not higher. A simple matter of personal taste.
79/100
The nose is rather discrete and reveals some slightly acid malt hints. The palate confirms the acidity, combined to a great complexity and some hazy peat touches with dry apricots. A rather long and pleasant finish.
84/100
At the third tasting, the nose was very discrete, revealing a malty smell with spices (pepper) and a slight acidity. The malt dominates the palate as well, with a hint of pepper, but the whole giving a kind of "watery" character to this bottle. The finish is interesting, specially by the surprising dominance of the spices. But the whole is rather deceiving.
74/100
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Glenlivet: independent bottlings

Glenlivet

Gordon & MacPhail 1990 Reserve

Collection
Reserve
Age
15 years
Alcohol percentage
58,6 %
Bottler
Gordon & MacPhail
Cask
refill american hogshead
Cask number
single cask 26947
Dates
Distil: 21-11-1990 Bottling: 1-5-2006
Bottle
269 btls
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
BT2007 88/100
Glenlivet Reserve 1990
The nose seems to be a kind of meeting place for lots of smells, from exotic fruit to cut grass, from spring flower to citrus fruit, with a tingling impression du to the high percentage of alcohol. Fruit dominates, and smells of apple, pear and a touch of lemon come in addition to the mango fragrances.
The nose becomes more and more pleasant as the whisky aerates. After a while it develops on chocolate notes. Very nice evolution indeed. The mouth is very pleasant, first on malt and developing quickly on appel and pear, with some nice slightly bitter hints of cashew nut. Malty sweetness dominates, completed by cocoa notes, and the high percentage of alcohol does not hinder the tasting at all.
The finish is long and warm. Memories of alcohol are quite present but an impression of chocolate malt remains in the mouth for quite a long moment. An excellent bottle.
88/100
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Glenlivet

Cask Collection 17 years

Collection
Cask Collection
Age
17 years
Alcohol percentage
60,0 %
Bottler
Dewar Rattray
Cask
bourbon
Cask number
single cask 13641
Dates
Distil: 12-6-1989 Bottling: 20-10-2006
Bottle
248 btls
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
84/100
Glenlivet 17 Dewar Rattray
A nice fruity nose with hints of honey. Nice freshness and a smell of acid drop. Really a promising nose.
The palate is first rather dry and presents a mix of woody bitterness and acid freshness. The nose was better than the mouth seems to be, even if it presents a nice evolution and is full of pleasant surprises.
The finish is above all influenced by the woody bitterness. Successive fresher waves, some perfumed acidity close to citrus, but not completely, brightens the lingering finish up. The finish is superior to the mouth.
Anyway this bottle is far from the consensual smoothness of the official Glenlivets. Clearly more character, even if this bottle is a bit nonplussing at the first contact.
84/100
A very nice nose with superb floral notes, smooth and subtle with remote hints of marshmallow . It really is a delight.
The very first mouth is pleasantly acid. Green apple developing soon on smoother malty notes, while keeping this very nice contrast between the smoothness of the malt and the acidity of the fruit.
The finish equals the nose and the mouth. Alcohol is first rather present, mixing bitter nutty hints with sweeter malty ones. The green apple acidity seems to have disappeared. An excellent bottle.
84/100
The nose seems to be dominated by plum jam with some medicinal hints, and a light tingling due to alcohol is present. It develops quickly on very nice fruity notes, green apple and an explosion of spices.
In the palate, a basket of green apples with a discrete bitterness. The fruity acidity clearly dominates and is quite complex, developing from green apple to smoother tastes (peach) before coming back on the first acidity.
The finish is pleasantly long and fresh with a touch of bitterness.
84/100
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Glenlivet

Rare Auld Cask Strength 37 years

Collection
Rare Auld Cask Strength
Age
37 years
Alcohol percentage
48,5 %
Bottler
Duncan Taylor
Cask number
single cask 5240
Dates
Distil: 09-1968 Bottling: 03-2006
Bottle
67 of 113 btls
Particularity
cask strength
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links & average quote
0/100
Glenlivet 37 Duncan Taylor
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Glenlivet

Rare Auld Cask Strength 22 years

Collection
Rare Auld Cask Strength
Age
22 years
Alcohol percentage
56,1 %
Bottler
Duncan Taylor
Cask number
single cask47134
Dates
Distil: 01-1987 Bottling: 02-2010
Bottle
367 of 429 btls
Particularity
Non chillfiltered cask strength
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79/100
Glenlivet 22 Duncan Taylor
Colour: Old gold
The nose is delightfully floral, but without much complexity. A slight tingling betrays the presence of alcohol. We guess some bitter notes, nuts. After a few moments, fruity notes appear, but rather discreet.
The mouth is first rather acidic, with a metal side. Without being disagreeable, that mouth is rather plain, although there was a greater variety of tastes that foreshadowed the nose. Only, those tastes are not my favorites ...
The finish is long and the metal side of the mouth is relatively dominant. Some acidity is present, but the pleasure is not at the rendezvous.
79/100
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Glenlivet

Glenlivet 1975, Celtic Heartlands

Collection
Celtic Heartlands
Age
33 years
Alcohol percentage
51,2 %
Bottler
Murray McDavid
Dates
Distil: 1975 Bottling: 2008
Bottle
416 of 474 btls
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links & average quote
0/100
Glenlivet 1975
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Glenlivet: samples

Glenlivet

One shot, 1990

Collection
One Shot
Age
No age statement
Alcohol percentage
46,0 %
Bottler
Jean Boyer
Dates
Distil: 1990 Bottling: 2006
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79/100
The nose is clearly fruity, somewhere between pear an melon. Very smooth, without any failing, but without any surprise neither. In the palate, the same fruity impression, very pleasant but without outstanding nuances in first instance. Afer a while, some slightly acid hints come and cheer the general impression up. The mouth is prolongs the nose in the same shapes... A rather short finish, without any surprise neither.
79/100
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Glenlivet

Best casks of Scotland 1993

Collection
Best casks of Scotland
Age
14 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Jean Boyer
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links & average quote
84/100
Glenlivet 1983 Jean Boyer
Very nice slightly spicy and clearly floral nose.
The palate is pleasantly "diversified" with first quit an acid attack (fruit, green apple) rapidly developing on light nutty notes before coming back on smoother malty and spicy notes. The only criticism I could make about this whisky is that it would probably be even better with a slightly higher percentage of alcohol. But there is no such thing as perfection...
The finish is very pleasant, between spicy smoothness and nutty bitterness.
Probably one of the best Glenlivet I tried.
84/100
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Glenlivet

Nadura

Age
16 years
Alcohol percentage
57,2 %
Bottler
Official
Particularity
Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
83/100
Glenlivet Nadura
A beautiful nose exquisitely marked by sweet fruity hints, between strawberry and cherry plum with a kind of honey veil above. Very tempting indeed. A nice smell of delicacy.
The sweet character of this whisky is confirmed in the palate. Nice complexity, from sugar to citrus acidity before coming back on sugar again with just a touch of woody bitterness. Very interesting for sugar lovers. I an not a sugar fan, but I have to recognize that this malt is rather interesting, even if I do not like it.
The finish is rather long and a kind of bitterness stacks over the sugar which remains present all along the tasting. In my opinion, it makes this whisky rather sickly.
79/100

Comment by

Henrik Johansson

Date of tasting : 4/11 2008 Apperance: Bright jonquiripe corn or new yellow gol Nose: Quite a prickle at cask strength as can be expected, lots of alcohol associated aromas, acetone and nail varnish remover. Behind that a scent of fresh fruits, mainly pears and also some white wine and vanilla. The straight dram develops cereal aromas like malt milk and oat meal, but it remains predominantly fruity. The alcohol is reluctant to give way to dilution, but the reduced dram lends some fennel and woody hints along w! ith neutral lip balm sort of smell. The woody impressions nicely balances the fresh pears to make a lasting impressions of a fruit garden. Body: Light to medium, but firm. Palate: Pear drops, the start is sweet and the middle is drier and the finish dry and bitter. There is also a curiously burnt flavour troughout, not at all smoky but sort of charred, toasted perhaps. Some caramel and a large impact of alcohol in the finish. The reduced dram feels very similar but more straight forward and simpler. Comments: Definately an easy drinker when diluted- and it can take quite a lot of that-. I'm a big fan of these single cask-style (if you will) bottlings. Perhaps it's good for quality that most standard bottlings are vatted american and european casks, but I for one love these cask stength, single cask-style bottlings.

86/100

 

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Glenlivet

Archive, 21 years

Age
21 years
Alcohol percentage
43,0 %
Bottler
Official
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
74/100
Even if it remains specially discrete, the nose is rather pleasant, very smooth with a touch of sherry and nice floral notes. In the palate, an relative lack of character holds the tastes up to develop nicely. Touches of wood, touches of fruit... A bit of all.. but much to less! The finish is quite woody and the bitterness is compensated by a great smoothness. Even if this version is not bad, it is rather deceiving in the light to the 21 years spent in the cask.
74/100
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Glenlivet

Glenlivet 1977-2010, Celtic Heartlands

Collection
Celtic Heartlands
Age
33 years
Alcohol percentage
47,7 %
Bottler
Murray McDavid
Cask
Bourbon
Dates
Distil: 1977 Bottling: 2010
Bottle
1358 btls
Particularity
(enhanced in Chateau d'Yquem casks)
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WDTSRG84/100
Glenlivet Murray MacDavid
WDTSRG Alouis

Color: Gold
Nose: Starts on wax, honey and yellow fruits.
With aeration It becomes greedy with notes of sweet honey and sweet pear.
Then again wax mixed with mineral notes and a touch of smoke in the background.
We end up with beautiful notes of iodine and lemony.
Nice development.
Palate: The palate is less complex, it was honey and cereals and marine notes, iodine.
Some autumn fruit and spice in the background.
Finish average with a slight astringency.
Pity that the mouth is set back from the nose.

90/100
WDTSRG Alexandre

The first nose has very discrete marine and medicinal notes, with a pastry veil, tender and very sweet. Soon afterwards revealing a very nice complexity, starting with sweet asserted and very sweet notes (marzipan, sugar cane), in a very 'rummy' mood, then go towards marine and saline notes where we can even detect a hint of smoke, before ending on a fresh taste and medicinal eucalyptus. Very nice trip to the country of flavours, with a alcohol rate well integrated. A little difficult to open though, but nevertheless very promising.
The palate confirms the complexity and the beautiful building of the nose. We are dealing with a great whisky. Without being exuberant, the mouth is dominated by peat, marine influences and a little tar, after an attack on very sweet or watery fruit salad and honey, still allowing the comparison with the rum. Reveals a hint of spice and heady flowers. A mouth very rich in flavours, but with a difficulty to be precise. Aeration will allow sweet notes to take precedence over the sea flavors.
The final, long, is dominated by peat and sea salt, with just a touch of wood and fruits (strawberries and almonds). A wonderful memory of warmth mixed with salt will remain for long minutes.
In conclusion, a good whisky. Aeration once the bottle opened should clarify a bit the mouth .

90/100
WDTSRG Gaxmalt31

Nose: Attack on alcohol, then sponge cake, agave syrup, slightly aniseed. Becomes softer after a few minutes of aeration. A touch of red fruit, slight sensation of creamy chocolate. The pastry side is dominant, accompanied by fresh mint. Very nice.
Taste: Alcohol is now pretty mature. The pastry side is the guideline, but with notes of tobacco, which adds to a feeling of cherries, close to a clafoutis. It's very good, the style of whisky that appeals to me.
Finish: Slightly astringent, the creamy side disappears, not very long. The pleasure is in the tasting.

89/100
WDTSRG Savoureur

Appearance: Riesling, some legs flowing quickly, others remain virtually glued to the glass and flow like oil
Nose: mild to moderate, alcohol is noticeable but not annoying (disappear with aeration), slight sweetness and citrus freshness , vegetables, sweet spices, all on a background of cereal / pastry, noble rot (? truly present or is this a fantasy because of the finish), the finish is so well integrated that we do not recognize
Mouth: creamy, after pepper and walnut skin (so slight bitterness and dryness), from the mid-palate and the soft side grain back to form a nice balance
Final: average flavorings finish
Conclusion: A very fine whisky and melted that requires much attention. A whisky to drink alone or early in the tasting

89/100
WDTSRG Dadamien

The nose, what a sweetnes ! Praline, plum, subsequently becomes more fruity, tangy. A little waxy, cooked apple. Fragrance, and a little woody. In the palate, silky as the nose, and then becomes acidic, citric, fruity, spicy, and a wave of wasabi. A bit of heather, salty. The finish is slightly astringent and woody. Waxy.

88/100
WDTSRG Oshen

Nose: Sweet. Attack on ripe fruits, citrus, peach, pear, banana. Exotic touch. Honey brings a nice roundness. Greedy. After aeration, it becomes slightly floral. Some notes of solvent, not unpleasant. Light oak too, but without any astringency. Nice complexity.
Taste: Hot. Faithful to the nose, we find the same fresh ripe fruit. Still this honey, too. Hint of vanilla. Syrupy texture. Notes of solvent. The wood is more present than in the nose, with a slight astringency. A little spicy.
Final: Average, woody, slightly spicy with notes of solvent.

88/100
WDTSRG Jean-Michel

Color: Gold medium.
Nose: Very appetizing. Fruit and grain. Dried apricot and tangerine. Malty beer. Biscuit (small butter). Then the wood extracts are more present. The fruit is drier, more biting, coupled with a slight bitterness. The beer is hopped over, and grapefruit notes appear. More spices too. Nutmeg and cardamom. And maybe some sage. And something that evokes the glossy as a new magazine fresh out of the box. Nothing monstrously complex, but all is nice.
Taste: Lots of vanilla in the attack and that same fruit the nose. Quite soon, some roughness, some astringency appear. Wood has clearly given a lot. Maybe a bit too much? Evolves on a point of salty licorice and a touch of geranium.
Finish: First pleasantly floral, it is maintained by a finally rather elegant bitter grapefruit reminder.
Comment: After a initial easy and delicious contact, this is a malt that is more sophisticated one might think.

87/100
WDTSRG RX21

Nose: sweet spices
Taste: cinnamon, milk chocolate, hints of yellow fruits
Final: medium

87/100
WDTSRG Sebou007

Color: Gold
Nose: it starts well with wax and honey, followed closely by the very slightly sweet sour apple (and browned in butter). It's rather subtle and very pretty. Less exuberant than some Clynelish, but very enjoyable.
Taste: essentially dried apricot (always mixed with butter) and honey. The alcohol is well integrated. Bitter almond aftertaste. It draws almost to the custard with a hint of flower.
Final: average over the dried apricots.
A pleasant dram, light, well designed on honey, apples and dried apricots. The nose and palate complement each other well.

86/100
WDTSRG Bpoujol

Gold color.
First expressive nose, fruit (yellow fruit), honey. It dims over time, and develops on the spices and wood and some vanilla notes.
The palate is soft, on spices, woody. The wood is too present for me.
Final long enough, not very intense, slightly honeyed, spicy, oaky.

85/100
WDTSRG Pompix

The nose starts with notes of vanilla and very fragrant flowers (Lila?). It also evokes the almond paste combined with fruits (fruits white / yellow fruit). It then evolves on the grass and fresh spices.
On the palate, the attack is slightly sweet. It recalls the nose (vanilla / flowers) and seems a little rough (light woodland). The finish is moderately long but nothing extraordinary.

84/100
WDTSRG Blackmalt

Color: Gold
Nose: Delicate, fruity sweet pear or apple. Further, some fruit chewing gum. On aeration, it is clearly on exotic fruits.
Taste: Fresh, fluid. More powerful than the nose, it becomes drier in the long run at the limit of astringency. A little spicy with a taste of dry wood. One retains the fruity nose.
Finish: Medium length. A pungent return in the mouth and still this dry wood.
Otherwise, the rest does not speak to me. Too bad.

84/100
WDTSRG Piazzolla

Nose: too gentle, exotic and white (pear) fruits, green grass
Mouth: quite hard to define, in line with the nose, but mostly on grass and white fruit (pears in syrup), reminds (good) brandy, alcohol is obviously present
Finish: quite short and a bit (too) dry

84/100
WDTSRG PatGVA

N: apple chard, cherry tomatoes, brandy, rosewood, toffee, sweet long accurate.
M: brandy, custard, rosewood, single, simple monolithic,
F: Spirits, balanced, long lack of personnality

84/100
WDTSRG Canis Lupus

Color: Yellow Gold
Nose first on a nice fruity notes but that fades quickly to leave the spot, without disappearing completely, to cereal notes, on the white bread crust. Some fruit alcohol, on raspberries or cherries in brandy. A strange duality.
Taste: sweet and creamy, oily. The fruity notes are more obvious than in the nose.
Final: Moderately long, hard to describe, but gives a good overall impression

83/100
WDTSRG jmputz

Color: Gold
The nose is very soft, fruity, vanilla and honey. No aggression whatsoever. A delight for lovers of sweetness. No complexity rather than by cons ...
The palate starts with an impression far more acidic than that announced by the nose. Green apple with a little honey and a rather obvious presence of alcohol. More complexity to the nose as well. Fortunately the feeling of alcohol disappears fairly quickly.
The finish is long and unlike the nose, which was bland and the mouth that it was acidic, the finish is pleasantly bitter.
Quite a confusing whisky and very different depending on the phase of tasting.

82/100
WDTSRG Mars

Very floral, honeyed nose. Slightly fruity (green apple). Some vanilla, pound cake. Nice, very nice!
Taste: Sweet, vanilla and slightly bitter (orange peel). Alcohol is still very present (peppers).
Finish: Vanilla with a hint of smoke and marshmalow. A lot of spices, slightly astringent

81/100
WDTSRG Jolie Grenouille

Nose: very fresh, fruity, on citrus. Very very slight smell of vanilla. alcohol very discreet, not too far. Little complexity.
The dilution does not change much
Palace: faithful to the nose. Fruity, no trace of vanilla. Alcohol rather discrete, slightly peppery after dilution.
Final short to medium on citrus.

74/100
WDTSRG Amor57

When serving, you are assailed by rubber. Not burning rubber as can be found in peat, no, simply recently vulcanized rubber and which therefore leaves transpire sulfur hints , quickly making room for vanilla pastry cream. With a little aeration another palette unfolds with polish, some herbs, a little chalk and cardboard, remote white fruit (peach, apple). It is really watery , and very light. In the mouth it is evasive and then comes the spices, a woody bitterness, clear alcohol, distant traces of eucalyptus and almond . The final, short in length and intensity, continues on this unpleasant bitterness , and astringency is complemented by a strong, equally unpleasant but luckily marked by clear mint , and anise touches.

72/100
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Glenlivet

15 years

Age
15 years
Alcohol percentage
46 %
Bottler
Gordon & MacPhail
links & average quote
BT2007 0/100
BT2007
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Glenlivet

21 years

Age
21 years
Alcohol percentage
43 %
Bottler
Gordon & MacPhail
links & average quote
0/100
BT2009
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Glenlivet

French Oak Reserve, 15 years old

Age
15 years
Alcohol percentage
43 %
Bottler
Official
links & average quote
70/100
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Glenlivet

Private Collection 1959-2009

Collection
Private Collection
Age
No age statement
Alcohol percentage
47,5 %
Bottler
Gordon & MacPhail
Cask
First fill sherry
Cask number
single cask 148
Dates
Distil: 1959 Bottling: 2009
Bottle
197 btls
Particularity
Non chillfiltered cask strength
links & average quote
Forum 92/100
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Speyside

Speyside Map

The Speyside area is situated at the North of the Cairngorm mountain and goes to the Moray firth. It is delimited by two rivers: the Findhorn at the West side and the Deveron on the East side.
The area is named after the river Spey. Most of the distilleries take their water in one of its affluents; the Fiddich, the Livet or the Avon.
About sixty distilleries from Speyside are described on this site.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information
about the Speyside area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please
click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow