My sister gave me this bottle when I was first dabbling in the vast world of Scotch. It is a simple dram & a great introduction. I wanted to review it in order to also promote less expensive offerings for people who aren’t sure whether they like whisky yet.
Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
Distilled by The Glenlivet Distillery
Type: Single Malt Scotch
Region: Central Speyside, Scotland, UK
Age: NAS, aged in traditional European oak & first-fill American oak
ABV: 40% (80 proof)
Mash bill: 100% malted barley from Crisp Malt at Portgordon.
Colouring: Yes
Appearance: 7/10
As with most Scotch whiskies, it comes in a nice box protecting efficiently the liquid from the UV rays. Once open, the bottle is topped with a synthetic cork in order to prevent oxidation & evaporation. In the glass, it appears golden with a certain transparency toward the meniscus. When I tilt my Glencairn, a thin crest forms from where multiple legs fall at a slow pace. Upon a little searching, I discovered that Glenlivet uses colouring agents in most, if not all, of its whiskies. I don’t really mind when it’s written on the label or at least mentioned on the website, but in this case, I couldn’t find anything directly from those sources. This lack of information does come a little as deceiving.
Nose: 11/15
The bouquet is reminiscent of a pie made from orchard fruits. Some fresh & cooked aromas of pears, red apples & peaches come to mind. The American barrel adds hints of vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves & nutmeg. It doesn’t turn out too sweet or concentrated, on the contrary, it gives the sensation of a delicate fruity dessert. After the first impression, underlying notes of honey, apple blossoms, caramelized bananas & orange peel make their way through more dominant ones.
Mouth: 12/15
The texture is creamy with a mild sweetness & the warmth of the alcohol. The spices are more dominant on the palate with the fruits taking a step back. However, the flavours match the aromas on all levels. The same orchard fruit, pie, honey, citrus & floral notes are present with similar intensity on the nose. A pleasant whisky made for some easy drinking rather than some deep analysis.
Finish: 6/10
The short finish lingers on the orange peel & the baking spices. When almost nothing is left, some unpleasant sulfurous aroma makes it way back. I don’t know if it’s a problem with my particular bottle or something else, but this flavour was also present in most cocktails I made with the whisky.
Overall: 72/100
A perfect introduction for beginners, this whisky is easy on the alcohol with a classic 80 proof. The delicate aromas aren’t too hard to decipher & the palate is quite pleasant.
3-word description:
Fruity, spicy & sweet.
The Reference
More information @theglenlivet.com
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