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Glenlivet Founder's Reserve

Liquid Oak

0 1482

@PandemoniumReview by @Pandemonium

8th Feb 2016

0

  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    20
  • Finish
    19
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    82

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Everyone who reviewed the Glenlivet Founder’s reserve got dragged into the NAS vs. Age Statement argument. I prefer not to get involved: no angry rants or sycophant flattery in this review. I’d just like to scrutinise this bottle on its own merits, not on its affiliation with the Glenlivet 12. So what do we know about the Founder’s reserve? Well it is the new entry level dram from the Glenlivet distillery, bottled at the bare minimum 40%. Little else is known, which saddens me a bit. The devil is the detail so I would very much like to learn which cask was used in the process (Bourbon, Sherry, Virgin, 1st fill, refill, ASB, Hogsheads, butts,..), etc… Let’s see if we can find it out for ourselves.


Description: No age statement release from Glenlivet, bottled at 40.0% ABV.

Nose: a light and pleasing floral nose: red apples, a lot of vanillin, butter, baking flower, with a hint of Ricola lemon mint.

Mouth: light bodied, dry and a little bitter. A shallow profile comprised of light peppery notes, strong young oak tannins, honey and green apples.

Finish: very short, vanillin with touches of pepper from the oak.


Verdict: it walks like a malt, talks like a malt, why all the hate? Its main selling point the nose, which is lovely. The downside is the palate that betrays its young age and feels a bit washed out, but we’ve grown to expect this from entry level malts. An easy evening sipper, very presentable and a good introductory single malt. As for the cask, I believe it has some sherry influence, but the abundance of vanillin and pepper reveals young bourbon or even virgin oak casks were used.

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14 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Very fair review...perhaps a little too fair.

All "politics" aside. I tried this at Spirit of Toronto 2015 and was extremly impressed in terms of how underwhelmed I was with this whisky.

It's not that it is horrid, like Lambertus, but it just isn't GOOD.

If there were nothing else I would accept a dram of the 12, if I really wanted a malt. I would do without rather than drink this expression. It's just not worth it.

8 years ago 0

@Pandemonium
Pandemonium commented

@Nozinan I got a bottle from the boss for christmas, I would never spend any money on it myself. It is not for the seasoned whisky drinker, we can agree there. It has its flaws, but I don't find anything wrong with it, yes it is lacking in taste. But for a presumably 8yo whisky watered down to 40.0% that shouldn't be surprising. Full disclosure I never liked the 12yo, I always thought it was a terrible whisky.

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

Why is it presumably 8 years old?

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

I didn't mind the 12 (it was the only single malt in the Air Canada lounge when I was just starting out and wanted to take advantage of the complimentary booze - not much because the flights were short and I had to drive later), certainly better than Fiddich 12.

I've often wondered what I would do if I were gifted a bottle that I didn't want...maybe the topic for a new thread...

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Personally I tend to find Glenlivets to light for my taste so I'll probably never have this unless I am treated to it somewhere lacking options. However I enjoyed your review and I want to thank you and recognize that you brought some nuance into a fairly biased topic. The ''founder's reserve'' tend to get shot down on here, often I suspect by people who might haven't even tried it.

Now this is not me pointing fingers here, not at you @Nozinan, nor anyone else. Just a friendly observation.

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Personally I tend to find Glenlivets to light for my taste so I'll probably never have this unless I am treated to it somewhere lacking options. However I enjoyed your review and I want to thank you and recognize that you brought some nuance into a fairly biased topic. The ''founder's reserve'' tend to get shot down on here, often I suspect by people who might haven't even tried it.

Now this is not me pointing fingers here, not at you @Nozinan, nor anyone else. Just a friendly observation.

8 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@Nozinan I totaly agree with you. The Livet 12 maybe lack some OOmph but has nothing wrong. That is not something I would say of the Fiddich 12.

As for your future thread, how would you react if you were gifted a bottle of your Belgian favorite?

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Alexsweden, I quite agree with you on all counts. Though I may not agree enough to reply twice...

:)

8 years ago 0

@Pandemonium
Pandemonium commented

@OlJas Came across the 8yo reference in two reviews, so it is possible. @Alexsweden No Glenlivet fan either, but got this one and the 18yo for x-mas and bought a Cadenhead Glenlivet - Minmore for myself, so I'll be writing a lot more about Glenlivet in the future

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Robert99 I would wonder if the person was a friend or an enemy...

8 years ago 0

@Misty
Misty commented

I just bought a couple of bottles of a superb Signatory 20 year old glenlivet from TWE for 120€. First fill sherry maturation for 20 years, can't be beat! I'll stick a review up in a bit.

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Misty was that a couple of bottles for 120 euro, or 120 euro per bottle?

8 years ago 0

maltmate302 commented

Nozinan I had a look on the TWE website and Misty's 20 year old Glenlivet are £87 each. They do look good though, lots of first fill Sherry cask influence!

8 years ago 0

@Misty
Misty commented

Yes its 120€ a bottle. Pretty much at the limit of what I consider an acceptable price to pay. However it really is just stunning. You know the kind of experience that just after the first nosing, you know you are in for a real treat. Independent bottlers I tell you, the way to go!

8 years ago 0

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