Glenlivet Live Tasting Event, May 14-16, 2010

[Ganga]

Welcome to the Glenlivet Whisky Live Tasting

The Whiskies:

12, 15, 18, 21, and any other Glenlivet whiskies you may have

Date and Time
May 14-16

Start time - 7:00pm GMT

It would be great to focus on Saturday May 15 at 7:00pm GMT as the interactive time frame

About...
For those of you who do not know what these are about, they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum. Have a look in the Live Tasting Forum for past events.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have. Tasting notes can be added using the Tasting Note tab on the postings page. (Note, the Age field on the tasting must be a number such as 7,9,10,18)

[Wave]

What happened to Glen Elgin?

[Ras Mazunga]

What happened to Glen Elgin?

Elgin has to wait till next month.

[MacDeffe]

I won't be online later today, but found 1 Glenlivet sample hiding on my shelf.

SMWS 2.61 16yo 1988 59.0%

Nose : Solvent, ashy (dusty?) without smoke, unusual and not unpleasant. Pearlike fruityness emerging after less than a minute

Palate : Sweet, fruity - again pearlike, like a tincan of pears, the alcohol is slightly overpowering to me but I get used to it quite fast. Still a weird mix af dust/ash and pearfruityness with a slight bitterness.

The nose steadily gets more and more fruity pleasant. With a drop of water the fruity ness is more exposed and a maltiness appears together with some lemon. I recommend water, but not too much

/Macdeffe

[Wave]

What happened to Glen Elgin?

Elgin has to wait till next month.

Since this was originally suppose to be a "Day in the Glen" an also since I'm working midnights most of next month I'll be doing Glen Elgin tonight. You guys can wait till next month, I'm not.


Cheers!

[Ian Logan]

Not sure whether its a Glens night or a Glenlivet night but I will be around throughout the night.

Ian

[Ganga]

Glenlivets for the most part Ian. I will go get several bottles and be right back.

Ok, I'm back. Here's what I have:

#1 Glenlivet 12 yo, cream label, gold foil, "aged 12 years" in red, single label on front, bottle embossed with "Estd 1824", several other notable differences on the label, 40%, think this is from the late 90s, green glass

#2 Glenlivet 12 yo, cream labels, "12" in maroon and "aged" and "years" in black, two cream labels, bottom label has "George Smith" signature, red foil, attached designation "Estd 1824", bottled 26.11.2009, 40%, green glass

#3 Glenlivet 18 yo, blue/black box with embossed gold lettering, midnight blue label with second cream label, bronze attached "established 1824", 43%, story label on the back, believed to be from late 1990s or early 2000s, green glass, blue foil

#4 Glenlivet 18 yo, midnight blue box with cream label, cream label and blue lower label, attached "estd 1824", blue foil, clear glass, bottled 18.11.09, 43%

#5 Glenlivet 12 yo, French Oak Finish, brown box, cream label, bottle embossed with "Estd 1824", 40 %, maroon foil, l010470

[Ganga]

So Ian, any new favorites you have from The Glenlivet?

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

Have developed a liking for the new Truimph, just find it a little creamier and more robust than the standard Nadurra. Started doing some things with the new 1973 Cellar Collection which is just stunning.
Still a case for the standard 18yo as my everyday dram.

[Ganga]

Triumph seems to be just making it out into the market here. Arizona got it many months ahead of us. It's on my radar for near future.

One of the things I really appreciate about The Glenlivet is that when you add a new whisky like the Nadurra, the core range is kept intact.

[Ian Logan]

I have 3 bottles of new make from the Glenlivet Sma Still sitting next to me here on the kitchen table. It will be in the cask by mid week hopefully.

[Ganga]

How does the new make vary from the regular stills to the Sma stills?

[Ganga]

Onto the first whisky (please see #1 description above).

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: malty paste, lemons, meaty fruits, fresh sawdust, very light spices, green apples
Palate: coconut in seawater, lemon/lime juice, dusting of grist, grapefruit rinds, ground cinnamon-light
Finish: long, fruity, refreshing

[Ian Logan]

Its only a 25lt still so a much oiler, heavier liquid. Still the classic Glenlivet fruity notes coming through. Its going into a selection of 30lt casks that I have in a dunnage warehouse at the distillery, very much work in progress.

[Ganga]

Whisky #1 again

Glass: Tulip nosing
Nose: much more malty, citrus just leaps out, strawberry pineapple, wood finishes
Palate: rich malty/nougat, lemons, coconuts, light fresh oak
Finish: long, fruity, refreshing

I have to say, the Glenlivet is ideal to go with the warm spring weather we're experiencing in southern California.

[Ganga]

Actually, the heavier body sounds like an interesting dram to have in front of the fire place rather than sunning yourself on the back porch.

[Ian Logan]

I'm glad to hear the Southern California is warm. On monday and Tuesday it was snowing at the distillery.....its been a helluva winter here.

[Ganga]

What we refer to warm is likely a heat wave over there. We're running highes around 83-85 F (28-29 C). At least we don't get Las Vegas hot.

[Ian Logan]

The first cask will be 3 years old in February next year then we will be able to have a good look at it. I'm a little concerned about evaporation from the small cask.
Its made from re-fill bourbon so shouldn't have too much effect on the whisky.

[Ganga]

By all accounts, I've heard that about 8 years is the max the little blood tubs can go. Seemed to get very woody after that. And yes, evaporation is a big concern.

[Ian Logan]

I always think of the 12yo as an aperifit. Those fresh crisp fruity notes just liven the palate. Also works well with smoked salmon or seafood.

[Ian Logan]

Once I get the casks to 3 years I will look at how much is still in it and see if we can use some for tasting at shows. The other way around things would be to create a "Living Cask".

[Ganga]

Whisky #1 for the Third Time

Glass: large brandy
Nose: cinnamon bread, citrus rinds, vanilla
Palate: cinnamon, doughy, lots of citrus, papaya?, coconut meat
Finish: long, fruity

[Ganga]

Your visit last time really helped me to appreciate what The Glenlivet has to offer. It's nice to have an alternative to the sherry and peat monsters. Then again, the a'bunadh is one of my favorites. Recently picked up batch 29. That one is exceptional.

[Ian Logan]

Its sometimes a little frustrating as so many people only see the 12yo but some of the other age statements hold up against anything.
Have to admit to a little bias naturally but do believe in the whiskies.

[lohssanami]

Greetings Ian, and hello Ganga.

Thank you for coming into the tasting today, and I think I'll look in stash for the Nadurra 0606A that I've been saving.

[Ganga]

Onto Whisky #2

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: baking bread, vanilla extract, coconut milk, spritz of lemon juice, wood glue
Palate: dough for buns, light cinnamon (ground), citrus, tropical fruit punch
Finish: moderate, very fruity with just a touch of grist

[Ganga]

Its sometimes a little frustrating as so many people only see the 12yo but some of the other age statements hold up against anything.
Have to admit to a little bias naturally but do believe in the whiskies.

The 12 is light compared to most. It's light like the St. Magdalene or Bladnoch but not grassy. I really like the 21 Archive that came in the suitcase. Also the Cellar 1969.

[Ian Logan]

Hi Tim,


0606A, its hard to believ its nearly 4 years since the first batch was done. No plans to change anything with it either. 1 or two other things in the pipeline after Truimph also.

[Ganga]

Greetings Tim. I'll hold some of these bottlings I have for you to try.

[Ian Logan]

The 1969 Cellar Collection is all about breakfast marmalade for me. A mix of sweet orange with a more bitter lemons. It has the oak in the background to add some backbone to it.

[Ganga]

Loved the 1967 as well. Big fruits with depth.

[lohssanami]

Hi Tim,


0606A, its hard to believ its nearly 4 years since the first batch was done. No plans to change anything with it either. 1 or two other things in the pipeline after Truimph also.

I grabbed several of these when they first came out, and I really was (and still am) excited by the flavors in this expression. Let me pop it open...

[Ganga]

Whisky #2

Glass: Tulip
Nose: wood glue, dough, bottled lemon juice, light fleshy fruits
Palate: lemon rinds, coconut, pineapples, green apples, ever so faint wood
Finish: moderate, brilliant fruit

[Ian Logan]

Tim,

Nadurra is all about American Apple Pie. Cinammon, cream, vanilla, red apples and a lovely malty overtone. Sometimes a little citrus on the finiash too.