Glenlivet Guardians' Chapter

In 2013, Glenlivet asked their "Guardians" (a group of people worldwide who have subscribed to Glenlivet promotions) to select a new, cask strength and non-chill filtered expression from three potential single malts, initially named "Classic", "Revival", and "Exotic". People voted, and "Exotic", a whisky primarily matured in Spanish red wine casks, won with 39% of the votes, making this the first crowd-sourced Glenlivet ever. 24,000 decanters were released and bottled at 48.7% ABV. On the nose, it begins with some nice fruitiness. Cherries, peaches, tobacco, and sawdust. Mint. The first impression suggested this was not a young dram. After a sip, the aroma gave me orange sponge cake and biscuits. On the palate, it is very pleasant. Orange peel, very citrusy, raw rice, and chocolate. Oranges, a metallic note that is truly delicious. Red apples. Extremely complex. The aftertaste provides a good conclusion to a wonderful whisky. Tobacco, hay, grass, earthiness, and salt. It genuinely feels mildly peaty. Dry. Overall, this was a very solid, pleasant, elegant dram. Complex, delicious, and full of flavor, it's a winner in my opinion. I don't think it's excessively expensive, but it can be considered "rare"; nevertheless, I strongly recommend anyone try this if they have the opportunity. My score for it is 92 out of 100.

Sampled on 10/15/2014: Sugary, caramel aroma right in your face. Full, sweet, velvety on the palate with vanilla/toffee/caramel sweetness. A pleasant sharpness that gradually appears. This concludes with the same sweetness, caramel theme. A delightful, simple pour.

Following some assessments this whisky surpassed my expectations. A more robust whisky than most Glenlivets and a bit richer. The increased alcohol content certainly benefits it with some lingering spice and lemon.

Shows the most sherry cask influence of all the Glenlivet expressions. Allow this to sit in a glass before drinking; it benefits greatly from a little water. Palate: dark chocolate and vibrant orange spice. Finish: Dry and long.

This Glenlivet expression is likely the sweetest encountered, featuring pronounced sherry notes that are quite delightful overall. It offers traces of chocolate and a remarkably smooth mouthfeel.

Good flavor, but I'm not a fan of the cask strength.