The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Whisky 1L

Founder’s Reserve Bottling Note – 1L, 40%
First revealed towards the end of 2014, the Founder’s Reserve is now available in the UK and will be replacing The Glenlivet 12-year-old whisky in many of the mature markets despite initial indications that it would sit beside it, broadening the entry-level options. Named in tribute to distillery founder George Smith, it’s packaged in Georgian blue.

Nose: Some dates then what at first appears to be a touch of salinity, but is better described as a slightly sharp plum and apricot wine note. There’s orange zest, toffee, hints of struck match and chocolate raisins, but before this starts to sound ‘Sherried’ there’s also pear drops, a dusting of sweet cinnamon, honeysuckle and sweet pea.

Palate: Fruity, then sweet, more toffee, a touch of anise, then into milk chocolate Flakes, banoffee pie and apple turnovers.

Finish: Creamy toffee to the fore now, a little oak and sweet barley sugar warmth too. Milk chocolate raisins linger.

Overall: Perhaps a little sweet, but it would work well with ice where the sweetness would be slightly suppressed – and before you shudder with disgust, Alan Winchester said that he liked his with a little ice sometimes too. And if it’s good enough for the Master Distiller.