Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask Selection

The nose on this one, although pleasant, is surprisingly flat. There are notes of candied lemon, honey, honeysuckle, golden raisins, and a surprising herbal character somewhere in the neighborhood of mint and tarragon. The palate is immediately sweet and floral as you’d expect from any Glenlivet. While initially it comes across very similarly to the Glenlivet 12, with heavily honeyed, floral notes, the cognac casks begin to make their presence known here with some interesting notes of cooked raisins, light baking spice, and a bit of buttery shortbread cookies. The finish however is where this whisky really shines. The immediate impression is of English toffee, roasted nuts, lemon drop candies, and a particular rancio note that I’ve come to associate with a well aged Armagnac. This dram doesn’t blow me away, but for around $40-$50 per bottle, it’s quite a respectable pour.

Scotland has had long history of illicit distilling throughout 1700's and 1800's. When the 1823 Excise Act passed, George Smith was one of the first men to take out a license to distill. Smith had a reputation of traveling with a pair of pistols for protection from smugglers and gangs who were known to attack and destroy distilleries. Glenlivet was acquired from Seagram's in 2001 by Pernod Ricard. There has been a big push by the parent company to make Glenlivet the world's best-selling single malt Scotch. It has achieved that status in the United States but is in second place to Glenfiddich on the global scale. The single malt coming from the distillery is known for floral and pineapple flavor notes. This particular expression was launched exclusively in the U.S. in July of 2019. Consequently, the U.S. accounts for approximately 40% of all Glenlivet sales. On the nose: orange blossoms, golden raisins, vanilla, lemon drop. On the palate: honey sweetness, black pepper spice, milk chocolate, and pineapple. Sweet on the finish at first, then herbal bitterness and pineapple astringency before it's quickly over. This is a smooth and easy drinking expression that is perfect for anyone that is new to whisky. Lots of pleasant flavors, not overly complex, and very little bite at 40% ABV. For those who want a bit more complexity, this is still a good whisky to finish the night with after a few excellent pours.

Very good. Speyside profile - sweet and honey. Borders on too sweet but stays in bounds.

50ml poured neat in a Glencairn at home. Nose has candied orange peel, fruitcake, vinous notes. Sweet. Nice. The cognac cask has done its work. Taste is a touch astringent and bittersweet, the orange peel has lost its candy, replaced by darker fruit like dates, raisins. Leaves a bitter and frankly unpleasant lingering heat on the back roof of the mouth. If the taste was more in line with the nose, I would like this so much more. As it is, not a fan. 10/18/19

Very light.