The Glenlivet Tasting - 16th Nov 2007 - Part 1

[K-Mile]

Went through the thread, I must say it is wonderful to have Ian around. Reading the comments I learned a lot of stuff, not just the dram but also what work goes into creating it. Thanks Ian for all your informative answers.

Now on to that 12yo...

[Muskrat Portage]

...Now on to that 12yo...

And, how are you enjoying your 12 yo? Now that I've had a bit of a nap, it appears my senses have reset and I can pick up a lot more in the dram than I did earlier today.

Peter

[K-Mile]

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The Glenlivet 12yo
Nose : Smoky, fruity as well, very fresh, has some tropical fruits in there. A little bit of bread, as has been mentioned before. I really like the smoothness, it appears to be well balanced. On a second sniff, definitely pineapple?! Nice!
Palate : Soft, tastes very smooth. Not too oily, really light. Hard (for me at least, at the moment) to identify distinct aroma's on the palate. Slightly dry, but not too much alcohol. No tingling on my tongue? I like it when it does...
Finish : Again, fruitiness. A bit perfumy. Maybe a little bit bitter? Not that powerful, but lasts quite a while. Brings up that tropical fruits again.
Comment : Very easy dram, but not bad at all. It's well balanced, but light and does not have any rough edges. Very enjoyable!

---

[Ganga]

Cripes, a big piece of brass just went through the front window. Had to clean up all the shards before the kids get cut.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, I have the Trader Joe's bottling of Glenlivet 15 40% (Alexander Murray & Co)...and five glasses.

Ardbeg noser, Celtic Malts, glencairn, small brandy and a tumbler.

[Muskrat Portage]

K-Mile: Excellant notes, as always. One of my personal favorite drams when I'm looking for a clean crisp dram to enjoy. I guess I'll have to pick up a new one as this is the last of this bottle.
Muskrat

[K-Mile]

...Now on to that 12yo...

And, how are you enjoying your 12 yo? Now that I've had a bit of a nap, it appears my senses have reset and I can pick up a lot more in the dram than I did earlier today.

Peter

Peter, I like it a lot! It handles a lot easier than I expected at this time of the night (it's 2 am here). Very tasteful for such a 'light' dram.

But how much I am inclined to open up that Nadurra tonight, I am going off to bed. Not that active this tasting, but just wait until next week At least I had a really nice introduction to The Glenlivet tonight, although I think I like my dram to be a bit more kicking But for a night like this its perfect.

Got a busy day tomorrow, so after this short but nice participation I'm off to bed. Enjoy your second round Peter, and your first Ganga and all the others that have not joined in (Mikey? I see you as active, ready to join in?)

Goodnight!

Ganga: Wow, where did that come from? First things first, but with that many glasses I'm sure you'll enjoy plenty of your Glenlivet!

Peter: Thanks! I got myself a bottle of a liter, and I'm glad I did I expect this one to work just as well for new whisky drinkers, so I will have to repeat this one at the office next week...

[Muskrat Portage]

Cripes, a big piece of brass just went through the front window. Had to clean up all the shards before the kids get cut.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, I have the Trader Joe's bottling of Glenlivet 15 40% (Alexander Murray & Co)...and five glasses.
Ardbeg noser, Celtic Malts, glencairn, small brandy and a tumbler.

Ganga:
...a big piece of brass???? Where the heck do you live?

Now, when you are nosing and tasting with 5 glasses, (oh and is Mikey on the line again?) how much do you put in each?

Muskrat

[mikeymad]

Okay, I don't have the 12, but I can start with the 15.....

Here we go.....

[Ganga]

MP,
usually about 20 ml. Some get a little more than others.

[Ganga]

First the tumbler.

---

Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : light citrus-tangerine, fresh oak, a litter estery
Palate : oakiness, citrus, something I can't quite identify yet
Finish : a lingering oakiness with a slight burn
Comment : I may have to reconsider young Glenlivet and Trader Joe's bottlings.

---

[Muskrat Portage]

First the tumbler.

---

Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : light citrus-tangerine, fresh oak, a litter estery
Palate : oakiness, citrus, something I can't quite identify yet
Finish : a lingering oakiness with a slight burn
Comment : I may have to reconsider young Glenlivet and Trader Joe's bottlings.

---

Pineapple? I find that holding the dram in my mouth a bit longer, as opined earlier on the forum, really does pick up more flavours.
Peter

[Ganga]

Now, the small brandy glass.

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Glenlivet 15 TJs Alexander Murray 40%
Nose : pencil shavings, lemons, light vanilla and esthers
Palate : lemony oranges, a bit of oakiness, a little pungeant
Finish : I'm left with a nice oak shaving flavor that is long without being to long
Comment : Gee, I am really enjoying this bottling.

---

[Ganga]

First the tumbler.

---

Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : light citrus-tangerine, fresh oak, a litter estery
Palate : oakiness, citrus, something I can't quite identify yet
Finish : a lingering oakiness with a slight burn
Comment : I may have to reconsider young Glenlivet and Trader Joe's bottlings.

---

Pineapple? I find that holding the dram in my mouth a bit longer, as opined earlier on the forum, really does pick up more flavours.
Peter

I'm not really getting pineapple per se.

[mikeymad]

---

Glenlivet 15yo 40% - French Oak Reserve - 75cl - Glencairn glass
Nose : vanilla, grass, oak (surprise), apple?
Palate : sweets (hard candy), light pepper, olive oil,
Finish : nuts, sesame seed candy bar, medium length
Comment : this is tasting better that I really expected. Good all around drink, on to the next glass

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[Ganga]

The glencairn glass....

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Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : wood shavings, a little citrus-closer to the pineapple, light vanilla
Palate : woody (oak), pineapple-banana, butter?
Finish : shorter, wood shavings
Comment : estheriness seems to be all but gone.

---

[Ganga]

The Ardbeg noser.

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Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : vanilla, pineapple & lemon, very light oak, maybe a little nutiness
Palate : fruit compote, a little pungant, a rich oak
Finish : finish is the shortest of the group so far, and the oak just lingers
Comment : This beverage is growing on me. For the Glenlivet lovers, this may be worth your while for $30.

---

[mikeymad]

the next glass:

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Glenlivet 15yo 40% - French Oak Reserve - 75cl - Glenmorangie Noser
Nose : vanilla, wood sap
Palate : slight oiliness, light pepper
Finish : nuts, sesame seed candy bar, medium length
Comment : very similar to Glencairn, it is more the intensity than anything else

---

[Ganga]

And now the Celtic Malts glass.

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Glenlivet 15, TJs Alexander Murray, 40%
Nose : rich fruits, Clark 5 Bar (no chocolate), wood is very light now
Palate : fleshy fruits with an oak base note
Finish : short and pleasant, woodiness comes through much stronger here.
Comment : Very happy to have purchased this bottle.

---

[mikeymad]

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Glenlivet 15yo 40% - French Oak Reserve - 75cl - Large Brandy
Nose : fruits (citrus), roses, oak (slight)
Palate : soft notes of vanilla, whipped cream, light body,
Finish : medium length, hard caramel candy (Wurthers),
Comment : this is my glass for this beverage. I am getting a slight anesthetized mouth from the beverage

---

[Ganga]

Something new in the Celtic Malts glass

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Glenlivet 12
Nose : citrus-pineapples?, flowery
Palate : buttery vanilla, light citrus, a little influence of woodiness and some spiciness
Finish : not too long, with light citrus coming through the oak
Comment : Maybe, the time that this has been open has helped eliminate the esters that I generally do not like.

---

[Ganga]

Where'd everybody go?

[mikeymad]

I don't know!!??!!

I must say that I have enjoyed reading the other posts. And I have enjoyed the 15yo French Oak.

I guess that it might be time to move onto more beverages......

Cheers,

[Ganga]

I thought I would try the MMcD Glen Spey, Madiera finish with a T-bone tonight.

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Glen Spey, 10 yo, MMcD, Bourbon/Madiera finish
Nose : very sweet and perfumey, some vanilla
Palate : An explosion of spiciness, the Madiera comes through quite well
Finish : moderately long with the sweetness of the wine lingering as you say, "Aaahh."
Comment : This beverage is much better with the Montreal steak seasoning. My recommendations are that you have this beverage with a good, spicey meal.

---

[Ganga]

Mikey,

I guess it is time to move over to other parts of the forum.

[Muskrat Portage]

Oh, you're done? Y'know, I feel bad about how these tastings seem to run out just after you guys get home from work. It's gotta be a frustration for you. It would be better if some of the folks in the Central parts of the country were able to chime in and keep things active for a couple of hours.

I've been flitting around the forums and keeping half an eye on the tastings for new postings but with only two samples don't have a lot to add over what I've already posted. I've quite enjoyed your comments and have learned , as I always do, from your postings.

Too bad you can't take a half day off next Friday and come to play with the Europeans. However, your familial responsibilities will take priority over anything else, and rightly so.

Muskrat

[mikeymad]

Thanks Musky,

It has been fun watching everything, i plan to be around next week and join early.

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Oh, you're done? Y'know, I feel bad about how these tastings seem to run out just after you guys get home from work. It's gotta be a frustration for you. It would be better if some of the folks in the Central parts of the country were able to chime in and keep things active for a couple of hours.

I've been flitting around the forums and keeping half an eye on the tastings for new postings but with only two samples don't have a lot to add over what I've already posted. I've quite enjoyed your comments and have learned , as I always do, from your postings.

Too bad you can't take a half day off next Friday and come to play with the Europeans. However, your familial responsibilities will take priority over anything else, and rightly so.

Muskrat

What do you mean HALF a day? I will be here early next week. Besides, I think I need the alcohol intake just to tolerate the boys since mom is gone all day.

[Muskrat Portage]

Mikeymad & Ganga:
Excellent, unless Mrs Musky creates plans between now and then, I'll be here around 11:00 am your time.
Peter

[mikeymad]

Mikeymad & Ganga:
Excellent, unless Mrs Musky creates plans between now and then, I'll be here around 11:00 am your time.
Peter

Well there you go.....

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Four for gore!

At some point we'll do an Aberlour tasting but you need to make this a Saturday so I can get through the 12 or so I have on hand.

[Ganga]

Ok, I had let the Glenlivet 15 (TJs) sit for a while because of the window being broken. I decided to repour the beverage and have it fresh out of the bottle. This comes of as a little more estery but it also comes off with a stronger vanilla (reduction of the oak) and some hard caramel. Truly a good beverage.

[les taylor]

Well I have to say that was great last night and having Ian Logan on line was fantastic. He pointed out things to look for that I would have never found on my own. It made me appreciate my whisky in a more in depth way. Thanks to Ian and Matt for arranging it. Also all the contributions made by everyone. This morning I had over 100 emails to delete from my inbox about the tasting alone.

Ps to Matt the live page worked brilliantly this time thanks a lot.

[Matt2]

Yes, thanks alot to Ian who stayed for a long time, and everyone else for taking part.

Sorry to say I had some food, chocolate fudge cake and a few glasses of the 18 and then fell asleep.

Looking forward to part 2 next week. Will be interesting to come back to them and see what else we can discover, and hopefully the samples will arrive in time.

[Danny]

Matt, is there a tasting on the 23rd?

Same time and details?

[Matt2]

Hi Danny, yes another one tonight, same place, same time. And Ian Logan will be back to answer more of your questions. Had a little Nadurra last, beautiful stuff - looking forward to having another one tonight.

A new topic will be created later for tonights tastings.