Glenlivet 15 Year French Oak Reserve

Purchased a four-pack of 50 ml Glenlivet samples for AUD$30. A great deal. I didn't expect much, but it was time to try a couple of standard, mid-tier bar selections. However, at 15 years old and costing around $110 (which is what Port Charlotte costs me locally), my expectations are growing... Nose: There's a richness and depth that the FR and 12 lacked. Oak tannins are noticeable and strong, but not too much. A touch of acidity like pear or apple juice. Syrupy sweetness, maybe some pineapple (unexpected), and a hint of vanilla. Palate: Thick and creamy with a full, mouth-filling body. Sweetness like fudge and sugar upfront, with creamy oak in the background complementing general pear and malt notes. Tastes like Kellogg's All Bran cereal. Vanilla is present. There's a little baking spice, clove, pepper, and possibly cinnamon. Surprisingly complex after the Founders Reserve and 12. Finish: Medium. Slightly tannic and drying. Pepper. Perhaps dried coconut? Nothing amazing, but significantly more interesting than the 12 and delivered with more distinct flavors than the FR. Barrels like French Limousin Oak are usually used for Cognac. I can't help but wonder if this spirit would have been better if Cognac had been in the barrel first. Maybe, if it were better integrated and slightly mellowed, the profile might have evolved. Can 15 years be rushed? I think this is a basic 15-year-old whisky, nothing special but still good. I'll forget about it by morning, though, which is a shame for a 15-year-old. [Shown here with a very ancient eclogite from Glenelg, Scotland; a rare global example of Precambrian ultra high pressure metamorphism. This rock is mostly dark green omphacite and red garnets. Tasty] Whisky tasting #114

Review #38 - Whisk(e)y #24 I purchased this at a restaurant for 9.50 euros for 50ml, which isn't the best value, but I decided to indulge myself. Nose - Rather heavy on the alcohol for a 15yo, with notes of honey, malt, floral elements, fruit, vanilla, some spice, and a touch of oak. Palate - Spicy, with sweet honey, very malty, the alcohol is prominent (feels quite potent and harsh), fruity, floral-soapy, but not to an overwhelming degree like the Glenlivet Double Oak. Finish - The woody oak character becomes apparent here in the short-to-medium finish, accompanied by a dry and slightly bitter aftertaste. Overall, it's a bit disappointing considering the price and the 15-year age statement. For instance, the Glenfiddich Solera 15yo is far more complex and balanced, though this also applies to the Glenlivet 12 Double Oak and the Glenfiddich 12, the latter offering significantly more complexity. I would certainly not buy a full bottle of this. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

This evening was extraordinary. Torrential rain, hailstones battered my rental car, and I was hosted for dinner by a local resident and their family who prepared traditional Indian cuisine. The car nearly floated away a few times, but the experience was well worth it. Our gracious host suggested we open a bottle of this single malt, and they were absolutely right about the 15-year-old. This flavor profile appeals to me easily: cinnamon rolls, vanilla, sweetness, and smoothness. Before you know it, you've had a few glasses and are chuckling, imagining your insurance deductible tomorrow after the hailstorm. It's better than the 12-year-old, more economical (and likely more to my taste) than the 18-year-old; this is a solid whiskey. We finished a couple of bottles with no regrets.

Glenlivet French Oak Reserve 15yo Nose: raisins, vanilla, caramel, and shortcrust pastry. Palate: quite velvety, enveloping, with raisins and caramel, I detect toffee in the background, but with a sour note and a rather unpleasant bitter aftertaste. Medium-short caramel finish. Nothing special. Rating 3.75

How I tasted it: By itself in a Canadian Glencarin glass. Sat for 10 minutes. Smell: fresh red apples, pears Texture: plain (water) Taste: apple skins, lemon vanilla Aftertaste: touch of spice. zesty Score: 8/10 Cost: $80 General Thoughts: Easy-drinking with apple flavors still present (compared to the softer Glenfiddich 15) Buy again? It’s a tossup between this and Glenfiddich 15 (super soft/easy-drinking). This one has a bit more personality (apple and zesty) - but I would still pick Glennfiddich 15 simply for the soft easy-drinking aspect.

Aroma: fruity, with cinnamon spice, citrus, vanilla, and a subtle floral/rose water note that complements the fruitiness. Taste: fruity, with toasted nuts, a light creaminess, and baking spices. The finish is reasonably long with a hint of oak at the end. A very smooth and pleasant drink. It's unmistakably a Glenlivet, enhanced by additional aging for smoothness and depth.