Jose-Massu-Espinel
Glenlivet Spectra
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
January 30, 2021 (edited September 24, 2024)
I got my hands on the Glenlivet Spectra, which is a set of 3 single malts (20cl of each) to discover the flavors and aromas that you can find over their expressions. This one follows the path of the enigma, code and cipher, to make the consumer try to guess the tasting and aroma notes, with an interactive game.
The boxing is actually pretty nice, is a shape-shifter triangle, with a logo that resembles a lot to the "Triforce" from The Legend of Zelda. The box actually changes its form to give you instructions and a brief description of the single malt you are about to have, without giving you the tasting notes. There is a QR code to scan that immidiately takes you to a web app, that prompts you into wearing headphones. They try to "hipnotize" you into take the task of finding the flavors and aromas, and the intensity of them. Pretty cool stuff.
So, this Spectra 01, is the fruity light character one, as soon as you open the bottle you realize that; bottled at 40%abv, golden color.
On the nose, your typical speysider. As soon as you uncork it, you get stewed apples, pears, pretty light and beautiful aroma. Dark dry cake, sider, dark fruits, very winey and yeasty. Hay. After a first sip, the aroma actually went a little down, delivering hay, malted barley, a dim vanilla and a yeasty spirit.
On the palate, it is a little simple and easy to drink. Grassy, it has farm-like flavors. Hay, barley, yeast. A second sip gave me red apples and prunes.
Aftertaste is ok. Again very grassy, it gives you the sensation of licking a tree branch (not woody or oaky, but a fallen tree branch). It is very regular, with a hint of apples. The second sip was actually oaky, oak spice to be precise.
Overall this is a yeasty spirit. It feels like your most standard whisky ever, the one you'll get if you do your own whisky at your house. It is nice, it is easy drinkable and it definitively has a Glenlivet profile. 80 points over 100, but the interactive experience on its own is a must. I like when whisky makers try to make me live something else rather than just the good "Aquavitæ". Slàinte!
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@PBMichiganWolverine @CKarmios i dont think this is a bad whisky. i am just a little bored on your typical speysider. tonight i am tasting number 02 which i believe is peaty. ill let you know.
@PBMichiganWolverine marketing departments are going to be the death of us
Seems like a marketing gimmick?