Glenlivet 2003 16 Year The Distillery Reserve Collection (Cask #87042)

I basically added one litre of water.

The Third expression we tasted in our distillery tour in The Glenlivet, was another single cask collection, but this time a 16yo fully matured in a first fill sherry butt, bottled at a wonderfully strong 62.1%abv. A true cask strength. On the nose, it starts with a red fruit syrup caramel. Hazelnut and a power acetone note, which was expected at such a high abv. Recently squeezed Lime juice, very citric. Humidity aroma and Leather. After a couple of sips the aroma changed into banana notes and cherry mana (brigadeiro sweets). On the palate, wonderfully sweet. Chocolate and oloroso sherry madness. Orange, and a tongue scorching pepper. Aftertaste has notes of Cherry syrup, Pepper and salt. Everything is tingling in your throat. Overall, this is a little too spicy and powerful due to the abv to actually be elegant, which is something you would expect after a great 12 and 14yo Single Casks from the same tasting event. Having said that, this is still a superb dram with some complex flavors and aromas that last very long. My score for this special single malt is 93 over 100.