I can’t tell if this is part of their current core range, a discontinued member of that range, or a one-off. I even read somewhere that this is a travel retail exclusive. I bought this at a local store, so I know that not to be the case I unless it’s a recent development. Regardless, this seems a cool variation of a whisky that I used to love but has become mundane over time. Let’s see what the First Fill American Oak does for The Glenlivet. Nose: Apple, pear, apricot, and floral notes. Some golden raisin and apple citrus. White grape. Honey, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, malt, and caramel. Very standard Glenlivet/Speyside notes. Coconut and almond. Black pepper. Light cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Gala apple, pear, apricot, cranberry, raisin, and orange citrus. Toffee and banana. Vanilla and caramel. Coconut and almond. Butterscotch and honey. Marshmallow. Light lemon/lime citrus. It’s subtle. Maybe even a touch of cherry. The faintest cinnamon and spice. Finish: Vanilla, toffee, caramel, honey, and marshmallow. White grape and golden raisin. Almond. Raisin, dried apricot, and cranberry. Peppercorn. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Medium length. Definitely an improvement over the standard 12-year. It’s the same flavor profile, just dialed up a bit. It’s a classic Speyside malt. I won’t call this an absolute steal, but it $65, the uptick in quality over the standard 12 is worth the $10 extra bucks. I’ll give this a 3.75/5. Fun release from Glenlivet.