We've got a couple Glenlivets here on our third round. Glenlivet 12 continues to hold the bottom spot since we started making these reviews. Granted we haven't been reviewing the low budget blends like J&B, Johnnie Red, Ballantine's Finest, and so on, but it's still a little sad to hold the bottom spot after 50 reviews. We're hoping that the 15 and the 18 coming up have some redemption for Glenlivet.
So we're trying the 15 tonight. 40% ABV. Ex-bourbon and French oak barrels. $90 CAD. Speyside.
We sniff around.
Apples.
Soft, sweet, apple perfume scent.
There's a debate whether ripe or crisp is the best qualifier for the apple aroma.
Scott gets a bit of citrus. Maybe a grassy note.
Kyle gets banana.
We cheers.
Tastes a little watered down but roughly a copy paste from the nose.
It's got some heat to it. More than you would like for a sweet scotch at 40%. It balances out over time.
Sean gets more of a creamy vanilla sweetness than an apple on the palate.
The apple is for sure more vague on palate, not ripe and crisp like the nose.
Simon points to a bitter finish.
Scott says the sweetness is more sugary. Smells like you're gonna get smacked with apples, but on the palate it's vaguely sweet and bitter finish. It's easy to drink, which isn't necessarily a good thing here.
Reviews: Sean's pick. Big step up from the 12 he says. He likes the palate. The creamy vanilla notes hit a sweet spot. He goes 82. Simon agrees it's a significant step up from the 12, but he thinks it's overshadowed by some other cheaper apple forward options like Glenfiddich 12 and Highland Park 12. He thinks it's pretty nice scotch still and he puts a 68 on it. Scott goes for a 68 too. A few nice flavors, but still it's simple and watery. Kyle goes 64. It's fine, but a little too thin for him. For Trevor the nose is great but the taste is really lacking. The bitter finish throws it off for him too. It's watered down and bland. He goes 57, just a small notch above the 12. Averages out to 67.8.
Overall: This is a little redemption for Glenlivet. We agree this is nice, really elegant nose, a little watered down, but still, a big step up from Glenlivet 12. At 20-30% off some of us might actually consider a purchase. At $90 CAD though, it's safe to say that it falls below average on our value scale and that we'll be looking elsewhere to satisfy our sweet tooth.
Cheers!
The S&P Crew.
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