More to Enjoy
- Raided Score: 88
- Publication: Whiskey Raiders
- Excerpt: Overall, I wish this had a bit more oak, which is surprising based on the 14-year age statement, but I think more proof could have worked here as well. This would certainly work in some of the more exotic cocktails out there. It's easy to enjoy, but it will not blow you away.
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- Raided Score: 85
- Publication: Distiller
- Excerpt: Would be a good selection for someone making the jump from rum or brandy into Scotch whisky.
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Intro:
This is a Glenlivet bottling finished in cognac casks. It bears an age statement of 14 years, is bottled at 40% ABV and can typically be found in the $50-$70 range in the United States, based on your market. Recently, Glenlivet has promoted this one a bit more as cognac has become gained popularity.
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Nose:
The nose is sweet, with honey, pear, peach and a bit of apple and plum. Very light, fruity and enticing. There's a touch of sulfur and a touch of pepper. Overall, I'd say no flaws, inviting light and fruity.
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Taste:
Hot buttered biscuits, fresh vanilla bean, a faint kind of musk. Some barley and then big fruits as well — apples, pears, plums, a little bit of blueberry and kind of stewed fruits, like a light fig come in. Cognac is definitely showing here and goes well with that kind of creaminess and apple and pear that Glenlivet naturally has. This is a bit thin on the palate. I do wish it was proofed up a little bit, but it's hard to complain for the price and knowing that Glenlivet typically likes to be bottle at 40% ABV.
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Finish:
The finish is short to medium. It's very much full of fruits and baking spice. There's a bit of pepper, a faint touch of sulfur, and again that biscuit note comes back. Buttery biscuits, freshly baked rolls, honey and a light waxy fruitiness. Honeycomb is very prominent throughout.
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Overall:
I do like this release. I think it's cool to see cognac coming into scotch distilleries more and more. Overall, I wish this had a bit more oak, which is surprising based on the 14-year age statement, but I think more proof could have worked here as well. This would certainly work in some of the more exotic cocktails out there. It's easy to enjoy, but it will not blow you away.
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Score:
6
- Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources