Glenlivet Live Tasting Event, May 14-16, 2010

[Ganga]

Ian,

I will be a little presumptuous and assume that you have tried a sherry matured Glenlivet. What did you think?

[Ganga]

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.

Have you been reading my notes?! Absolutely how I would describe the Nadurra.

[Ganga]

Whisky #2 one last time

Glass: Brandy
Nose: Sliced Granny Smith apples, light maltiness, vanilla, more fruits
Palate: apples, dough, light citrus, coconut
Finish: Moderate, with apples

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

There are no 100% sherry matured versions apart from Cellar Collections. I have a dramming cask I use at the distillery that is a 1979 butt and is fantastic. Very rich, spicy and dark chocolate, add a citrus creme brulee and you are just about there.
Its a light new make and we have to be careful with the use of sherry especially first-fill.

[lohssanami]

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yr - batch 0606A - 57.2%

Glass: Glencairn

Nose: Sweet green apples...seems a little like honeyed apples.

Palate: This one sits on the tongue well for such a high strength. I still get the apples, and a bit of a citrus edge, maybe even pears. The vanilla is nice, and you're right, the malt starts to show through here.

Finish: Long and enjoyable finish with a touch of apple, but more citrus on the finish.

Very nice dram, and my favorite of the Glenlivet range.

[lohssanami]

...Very nice dram, and my favorite of the Glenlivet range.

I should qualify this by saying that I've only owned the 12, 15 and 18. My only samples of the higher versions have been deep into whisky festivals.

Also, I did try the 1967 Cellar Collection mikeymad opened last year, but I don't count supreme expressions when picking favorites from a range.

[Ganga]

Whisky #5

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: roasted vanilla beans, burnt creme broulee crust, custard, simmering fruits
Palate: cinnamon buns, pineapples, sugary sweetness, vanilla custard
Finish: long, warming (think kitchen on a winters day)

[Ganga]

First fill would likely overwhelm The Glenlivet spirit. I was thinking in terms of a second fill.

My recollections are that Scott's had a couple of sherry matured casks that were bottled. a number of years ago.

[Ian Logan]

Tim,

I think Nadurra has gone a long way in raising the awareness of The Glenlivet. In some countries it has been amazing, in Sweden around 60% of our sales in goverment stores are Nadurra.

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

I have sampled some 1960's sherried Glenlivets with Euan Shand from Duncan Taylor out of his stock. He has as good a selection as another company I know of and the vast majotiry are very good.

[Ganga]

Whiksy #5 take 2

Glass: Tulip
Nose: dried spice rack, underlying wet grist, fresh oak
Palate: raspberry creme broulee, lots of cinnamon powder, tropical fruit selection
Finish: long, spiced fruits

[lohssanami]

Tim,

I think Nadurra has gone a long way in raising the awareness of The Glenlivet. In some countries it has been amazing, in Sweden around 60% of our sales in goverment stores are Nadurra.

Ian,

Nadurra will always be in my bar, and I look forward to getting a few new bottles to compare with this one.

Luckily, I introduced a good friend to Nadurra, and now I get to have a glass almost weekly. Great job on the Nadurra!

[Ganga]

I try to keep up with the Duncan Taylor Releases. Hard when so many of them are single casks and they don't get wide distribution.

[lohssanami]

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

Sounds good! Maybe before October, eh?

[Ganga]

Whisky #5 the Third

Glass: Brandy
Nose: Vanilla custard doused in cinnamon, warmed red delicious apples, waxiness, sandalwood
Palate: Not nearly as intense as the nose, but rather similar to the nose
Finish: long, cinnamon custard

[Ganga]

Working a trip north for July. I'll certainly bring some stuff to enjoy. NO ARDBEGS.

[lohssanami]

Working a trip north for July. I'll certainly bring some stuff to enjoy. NO ARDBEGS.

I'm sure myself and Alan have those covered. I want to dig into some of those Glenlivets.

[Ganga]

Will pour samples for you of all five. BTW, #3 is now bye-bye as I poured the last 25 mls into a sample bottle for you.

[lohssanami]

Ian,

I was just browsing on http://www.theglenlivet.com, and I noticed you have a 'micro site' for the Nadurra. I feel pretty good now that I see Green apple in the notes.

You do have an extensive range of whiskies with the Classic, Nadurra and Cellar Collection. I was just wondering if you have any plans to do a younger set of single casks?

[Ganga]

Whisky #3

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: Sugar explosion, very floral, soft woods (not hard woods), christmas cider, bees wax, cooking vanilla
Palate: cooked fleshy fruits, cinnamon custard, bbq'd coconut
Finish: long, cinnamoned fruit

[Ganga]

Whisky #3, once again

Glass: Tulip
Nose: found my missing citrus , wood spices especially cinnamon, furniture polish
Palate: old wood furniture (very good), hot custard pudding with cinnamon sprinkles, baked fruits
Finish: long, loads of fruit and cinnamon

[Ganga]

Ian,

Is there some second fill sherry casks that are part of the 18? This is GOOD whisky.

[Ian Logan]

Tim,

At present there are no plans to look at anything younger at present. Our focus is on the core range as it stands at present, we have tagets we are looking to achieve first.
In 8 years we have gone from 275K 9lt cases to over 600K 9lt cases last year so we have to concentrate on the core range.

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

There is a good percentage of sherry in 18yo but probaly less than most people think, it take a lot less to influence a vatting than people think.

[Ganga]

Whisky #3, #3

Glass: Brandy
Nose: cinnamon orange, old grains, wood polish, bees wax
Palate: overripe oranges, vanilla, slight coconut (think I missed this in the other glasses), old woods but in a good way, light wood spices
Finish: long, soft spices and fruit

[Ganga]

Ganga,

There is a good percentage of sherry in 18yo but probaly less than most people think, it take a lot less to influence a vatting than people think.

I was thinking about 15-20%. It brings forth stuff that I find in Macallan and Glenfarclas but much lighter.

This 18 is beautiful.

[lohssanami]

Tim,

At present there are no plans to look at anything younger at present. Our focus is on the core range as it stands at present, we have tagets we are looking to achieve first.
In 8 years we have gone from 275K 9lt cases to over 600K 9lt cases last year so we have to concentrate on the core range.

I can understand, and with a core range of 12, 15, 18, 21 and XXV, not to mention the Nadurra and Cellar Collection, there is plenty to keep you busy.

Congratulations on the growth! Great work!

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

You are really not far off with that. We also increase the 1st fill bourbon.

[Spirit of Islay]

Well hello guys didn't realise it was a Glenlivet weekend , won't partake tonight as i've been drinking quite a bit of 1970's stuff from my Fav distillery , will post notes at some point of the 2.74 and BBR 1982 .

[Ian Logan]

Gordon,

Nice of you to drop in, drop me a line at ian.logan@chivas.com if I can help with anything.

[Ganga]

Ok, I'm going to contrast the old with the new. This one inidicates 2009/11/18. So three more sets of notes.

Whisky #4

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: Coconut, pineapple, some parafin, light oakiness and cedar, mixed fruit in the background
Palate: wood first, cinnamon/orange cider, red apples, tang of tropical fruits
Finish: long, lingering christmas cider

Well about 5 minutes later I'm getting mushrooms

[Ganga]

Amrut G?

[Spirit of Islay]

Gordon,

Nice of you to drop in, drop me a line at ian.logan@chivas.com if I can help with anything.

Hi Ian ,
nice to see you , i will drop you a line at some point to ask if you fancy being a guest on our weekly Wednesday night chat , about time we had someone on from Speyside after people from Islay , Bladnoch and India !!!

[Ganga]

Whisky #4, 2nd edition

Glass: Tulip
Nose: much fruitier, tropical fruits both citric and fleshy, underlying wood vanilla and coconut
Palate: papaya, pineapples, apples, coconut, cinnamon, maybe some melons, vanilla/custard
Finish: long, very fruity

[Ian Logan]

Ganga,

The 18yo is the favourite of myself, Hamish Proctor(Distillery Manager) and Master Distiller Alan Winchester.