Reviewed by: Nick
The banks of the river Spey in Scotland’s north east are fertile ground indeed. Nearly half of the country’s distilleries are located in this region which has come to be known, rather appropriately, as ‘Speyside’. Upon my criminally short drive through the area my head continuously moved side to side reading road signs pointing towards yet another famous distillery. It must have looked like I was watching a grand-slam final between Nadal and Djokovic! This abundance of whisky excellence could be found nowhere else on earth.
Speyside whiskies are known for being the smoothest, the richest, and the most elegant drams that Scotland has to offer, a reputation well deserved. Perhaps the best example of a Speyside malt is the Glenlivet 18 Year Old. It is one of the classiest single malts going around – and at a price that practically every other 18 year old whisky cannot come close to.
The whisky’s colour alone is enticing: a golden amber which glints in the sunlight. The nose is better: full of caramel, vanilla and orchard fruits. It is a pleasantly balanced aroma, not favouring one flavour over another. The palate is rich – full of flavour without being heavy. There is honey, oranges and malty biscuits, along with the faintest hint of sherry. The finish is light and not as sweet as the initial flavours suggest, with plenty of oak imparted from its 18 years in barrels.
There are literally thousands of whiskies made within a few miles of the river Spey. But if you were only able to try just one – then you could make a pretty strong case for this one.
★★★★
Of the Glenlivet stable, I actually prefer the 15 year over the others… at least from vague memories of years ago. Glenlivet isn’t exactly my ‘go to’ whisky. 🙂
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We’re mourning the passing of Glenlivet as our go-to whisky, since the introduction of a certain no-age-statement release… Having said that, I’m happy the 18 year old is sticking around. As for the 15 year old, I enjoyed it on the solitary occasion that I tried it… which was during the latter part of a whisky live session so it wasn’t necessarily the best indication of true quality =P
Keep on waffling,
Nick
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