Scotch Whisky Review #124-126: Glenlivet Trio (Founder’s Reserve, 12 Year Double Oak, 14 Year Cognac Selection)

Distillery: Glenlivet

Region: Speyside

Price: $12 for 3 50 mL samples

This is the first in my Countdown to Christmas series where I’ll be posting a review a day until Christmas. You can find the entire series here.

Glenlivet, much like Glenfiddich, holds a special place in memory for me. The 12-year was one of the first whiskies I’ve ever had and for the longest time I couldn’t keep it and Glenfiddich straight. I’ve not had a lot of Glenlivet lately so I’m really curious to see how this has held up over time.

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Review #124: Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve

ABV: 40%

Age: NAS

Color: 0.7, Deep Copper.

Nose: (according to the wife) It smells funky and medicinal, very much like the water that’s left after you’ve rehydrated some dried shiitake mushrooms or Kweichou Moutai Baijiu.

Palate: Super, super thin. Lots of oak and with that medicinal, mushroom-y funkiness. It really does remind me of a super watered down Kweichou Moutai Baijiu.

Finish: Super short, gone in a flash. No time to figure anything out.

Conclusion: I didn’t have high hopes for this at all. A NAS version of an already low-end whisky? Nothing exciting. It’s really strange though, the mushroom-y notes are seemingly so far out of place from where Glenlivet usually stands so I’m really intrigued by how it got there. The closest thing I can think of is the Glenmorangie Allta but that was done far better than this. Would I buy a bottle? No.

Final Score: 65.

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Review #125: Glenlivet 12 Year Double Oak

ABV: 40%

Age: 12 Year

Color: 0.7, Deep Copper.

Nose: (according to the wife) Smells of apricots and fresh-cut hay.

Palate: It’s smooth but thin and lacking a bit of flavor. There’s a subtle note of honey and fresh cut hay but its barely detectable. Really easy to drink but nothing to it.

Finish: Very short. Notes of fresh oak, hay, and honey show up but again not for very long.

Conclusion: This is the first time I’ve had the Glenlivet 12 since the repackage and man I don’t remember this being this flavorless. Glenlivet wasn’t ever super packed with flavor but this just feels like there’s nothing to it anymore. Disappointing but at least it’s drinkable. Would I buy a bottle? No.

Final Score: 70.

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Review #126: Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask Selection

ABV: 40%

Age: 14 Year

Color: 1.1, Burnished.

Nose: (according to the wife) Lots and lots of alcohol with a side of peppery oak spice.

Palate: For 40% ABV, this really packs a lot of heat. It tastes of solvent that’s been over oaked. Way too hot and way too bitter.

Finish: Medium in length, again loads and loads of oak spice.

Conclusion: I’ve been really intrigued by this whisky. A distillery the size of Glenlivet changing up their core lineup to include an unusual cask finish? That just sounds appealing. That said, I’m really glad I got a miniature to try this. It’s awful. Despite being watered down, it tastes like nail polish that’s been over oaked. I had three, maybe four sips of this before it went down the drain. Blech. Would I buy a bottle? Never.

Final Score: 50.

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Final Thoughts: I didn’t expect a whole lot going into this set of whiskies but even then it somehow managed to disappoint. I was hoping for at least a little trip down memory lane with the 12 year old but they’ve somehow managed to ruin that one as well. Rather poor from Glenlivet. Oh well.

Scotch & Sheen is now on Instagram! Please take a look for quick summaries of my reviews!

Scotch Whisky review #124-126, Speyside Whiskey Review #45-47, Whisky Network Review #165-167, Christmas Countdown 2019 #1

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Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.