Glenlivet 21 Year Archive

Nose: Initially, the aroma presents a well-balanced blend of deep fruits, apple cider, and malt extract. There are oloroso sherry scents of nuts and fallen leaves, with honeyed and mild aromatic oak notes. The oak possesses a sandalwood quality. The nose develops a leathery fragrance over time as the initial sweet tones fade, eventually gaining a dark toffee note. Palate: A rich, finely structured sherry oak introduction that initially shows delicate spice, then progressively reveals grippier tannins. This oak contribution imparts a slightly bitter yet oily nutty character, along with flavors of coffee grounds, dark chocolate, and bitter marmalade. The texture is moderately oily, but not heavy. Finish: Medium/long. Mild coffee and dark chocolate notes carry into an aftertaste reminiscent of diluted, over-brewed black tea. The nose is well-balanced and complex, but at its core, it's a woody aroma – the oak is simply so well-integrated and soft that it never overwhelms the other notes. The cask management was excellent, and over time the nose acquires a soft, luxurious quality without ever becoming cloying or syrupy. For me, this is a classic example of a well-executed sherried Speyside nose, very typical of older Glenlivet expressions. The palate is more pronounced than the nose, with greater oak dryness. This is balanced by an oily, nutty quality, preventing excessive sweetness. It's an intriguing palate because from the start, one anticipates a sweet progression, but instead, it evolves towards dry, woody characteristics that almost verge on astringency. These notes intensify into the finish. With extended time in the glass, tobacco notes emerge on the palate. Adding water considerably mutes the nose, and the whisky suffers, rapidly disintegrating into a mere shadow of its former self. At 43% ABV, it cannot tolerate much water, and I much preferred the character of the neat nose. The palate fares similarly, becoming insipid and developing a one-dimensional simplicity with water. While I generally prefer my single malts with a touch of water, this is one I would advise taking neat, as despite its apparent strength, it is quite delicate. Elegant, dry, and bordering on austere. This is a very good whiskey, but I felt it was significantly overpriced and consequently, I will not be pursuing a bottle. Tasted from a 30ml sampler. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)

Nose: Full, powerful, with abundant sherry, raisins, and caramel. Palate: Sherry and caramel, raisins soaked in alcohol, cocoa shortbread pastry. A light coffee note emerges as you approach the finish. A hint of spiciness on the tongue. It coats the mouth and tongue, without any sour notes. Finish: Warm and enveloping, long, fading from slightly bitter to sweet. An almost perfect whisky, with the correct alcohol content, comparable to Glenlivet's XXV, which it rivals effectively. Rating 5.00.

An impressive example of The Glenlivet that I was keen to try. I've finally had it, and it was a sophisticated dram, easily drinkable and smooth, though perhaps a bit too uncomplicated. Bottled at 43% ABV. On the nose, I genuinely detect many notes typically found in the Glenlivet 15yo French Oak. A highly sophisticated aroma. Vanilla cake, raisins, fruitcake. Wonderful! And a fancy aroma, with noticeable sherry influence. Custard cream and pineapple. On the palate, this is a remarkably light whisky. Very smooth, with vanilla, custard cream, and cake, just as the nose suggested. The aftertaste offers something a little different, a very bitter, truly bitter tobacco note (excellent). Ginger. A super pleasant finish. Overall, this is a fancy dram, intended for those who can afford it and desire a very smooth, uncomplicated whisky. My score is 89 out of 100. A very pleasant experience.

It's tough for me to give such a high rating to a vintage product with a distinguished background. This is my first time trying a scotch over 20 years old, and I anticipated more. The familiar distillery notes I adore from Glenlivet are absent. Aged, musty smoke notes emerge as it sits in the glass. I'm not particularly fond of smoke or peat; the smoke overwhelms other flavors. I also expected more richness and a smoother texture. The 18-year-old might be the perfect choice at a significantly lower price (less than half). I simply cannot justify spending $300 on this bottle.

Nose: prominent sherry, maple syrup, cedar, raisins, gentle vanilla Palate: dried fruits, light honey, butterscotch Finish: medium length, chewy, with spice and dried fruits The nose is very pleasant, with a strong sherry presence. The palate is good, but not remarkable or complex. The finish is also unimpressive and just adequate. I find this dram quite disappointing.

I really liked this Scotch. The expert notes accurately describe this expression. Personally, the qualities that stand out are the fact that it is exceptionally smooth and easy to drink. However, it seems to lack the complexity and depth of comparable Scotch from the same region. For comparison, I found the Dalmore Luminary No 2 to be more interesting.