Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask Selection

New Glenlivet as of summer 2019. Interesting concept; I've never tried a cognac-aged whisky let alone a cognac-aged Scotch. Let's see if this was a worthwhile attempt by Glenlivet to diversify their portfolio. Nose: At first its a lot of the standard Glenlivet notes: apple, pear, apricot, peach, honey, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. But behind that I get some darker notes, akin to what I get in sherry cask finished-malts. Plum, raisin, and cola comprise the second layer of flavor. Beyond that it's grainy cereal, oatmeal, shortbread cookie, and marshmallow. A bit of nail polish. With time, I get some pineapple. Maybe just a hint of tobacco and black tea. It's a bit muted at first but surprisingly becomes very good given some time to open up. Palate: Malty toffee and orchard fruit. More apple, pear, apricot, honey, vanilla, and a bit of raisin. A bit of milk chocolate and walnut. Some orange and banana. Slight maple syrup. Cereals and grains. It's decent, but unspectacular following that stellar nose. The cognac influence seems to be all but gone save that one subtle raisin note. Finish: Apple and pear persist for all of two seconds, and then it's a puff of cinnamon and oak before it's all gone. Short, uneventful finish. Nosed it first, and thought it was great. Nuanced, complex, and unique. If I was just nosing this, I'd say it's up there with the best of them. I didn't expect much from this when I heard it had been released, and my initial impression as I nosed it was that this was an improbable home run. But I paid $60 for this. And the palate was as regular as they come. Not bad, but in no way memorable. I think it'd best be described as even-keeled. And then the finish.... I enjoy a little intensity in a finish. If Mott's Apple Juice is a 10/100 on the intensity scale, this is a 12/100. If they were going for "smooth"--nailed it. If they wanted this to be remotely interesting, not even close. A great nose is awesome, but I'm here to drink the whisky. And this one drinks like a tentative tea ball player. I'm sure I'm being a bit harsh. But after such a promising start, I just feel utterly let down. I've always been a big fan of Glenlivet, the 12 year was the first single malt I ever purchased, and I loved it back then. I understand what they're going for here, but I just can't appreciate it. Seems to me like they just needed a 14-year counterpart to match their Speyside rival--Glenfiddich. This scent would make for an amazing car freshener or bedroom candle. But as a whisky, I'd say pass, people.

Lots of flavor from the cognac. Longer/more aromatic finish than the 12 but similar on overall profile. Splash of water brings out another layer of faint chocolate and spice.

Nose: fruity like pear, honey, and hints of pepper Palette: vanilla, honey, and hints of sweetness of cognac. Finish: a little bit spicy, dry finish, and leave vanilla taste.

Nose: Vanilla, raisins, honeysuckle, slight pepper, as I sit with it the honeysuckle and pepper vanish leaving the vanilla and raisin Taste: honey, raisins, light vanilla, overall kind of thin Finish: slightly tannic and peppery with lingering raisin Adding water brings out some dark chocolate and cinnamon in the taste and makes the nose a little bit closer to the glenlivet 12.