The Glenlivet is one of the best-known names in single malt whisky, with a long history and a range that has changed considerably over the years. That became especially clear while putting this list together, as a surprising number of Glenlivet bottlings that were once familiar parts of the lineup are no longer available.
The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive, the Nadurra series, and several other bottles are no longer available through Glenlivet’s own website, which is a little upsetting.
However, we’re here to rank the whiskies that are available in the current Glenlivet range. So, I tasted all of the ones I could get my hands on. Which bottle is the best in the lineup, and which ones leave us wanting a little more?
7. The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, 40%, $33 / £28
I remember when this was launched, and I felt a little sorry for it at the time. I opened a tasting event with it, and it received plenty of attention, which should have been a good thing. The problem was that it was immediately followed by the classic Glenlivet lineup, and alongside those whiskies it just felt youthful and weak.
I bought a bottle a few weeks ago to make highballs during the current heatwave, and it’s great for that. This is the entry-level point to the Glenlivet range, something designed to create curiosity. It has some nice sugary notes, along with sweet cereal flavors, but not enough to make it particularly interesting.
The price point and color scheme certainly attract the consumer’s eye, but everything else holds it back, in my opinion. This isn’t what Glenlivet was designed for. It feels more like a reaction to a marketing decision that wasn’t particularly wise.
If you’ve never tried Glenlivet, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. Spend the extra money on the 12 Year Old. I could only find seven products available on Glenlivet’s website, but Founder’s Reserve would probably rank even lower if more of the older releases were still around.
6. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Double Oak, 40%, $50 / £33
Here we have the true entry point into The Glenlivet whisky range. That’s not because it has an age statement. It’s because this is what The Glenlivet single malt is all about.
It’s a sweet, welcoming and well-rounded Speyside whisky that helped introduce Glenlivet to drinkers around the world. It’s loaded with pineapple, brown sugar and vanilla custard notes. A delicious entry-level single malt whisky.
The taste, the age, the design and the history all work together and really bring home how delicate, fruity and approachable Glenlivet single malt can be.
You could argue that a stronger ABV version is all that is holding this back, but there is currently one available in the Glenlivet range. More on that later.
If you’re yet to experience Glenlivet, this is the way to do it. Ex-bourbon casks and this spirit are a match made in heaven.
5. The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak, 40%, $77 / £47
This whisky sits in an unusual space for me. French oak can bring all of these wonderful soft, spicy flavors like peach and ginger, but this release always reminds me more of sherry cask influence. It’s really heavy on dried fruit and nutty spice notes.
Don’t get me wrong, that isn’t a million miles away stylistically, but it doesn’t scream that it has been driven by French oak. However, that does arguably make it more approachable.
Being a 15 Year Old single malt with a slightly exotic cask influence makes it a very attractive option for the whisky consumer, but the resulting flavor profile isn’t too different from a lot of the regular sherry cask whiskies available on the market.
You can normally find this bottle on offer in plenty of UK supermarkets, and for below £50 it’s a very good purchase. It sounds like I’m being really harsh on this, and apologies for that, but I just think it could do more if that French oak influence was pushed a little further.
4. The Glenlivet 25 Year Old Sample Room, 43%, $580 / £450
This is a bottle that screams intrigue thanks to its combination of cask influences.
It is matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in first-fill Pedro Ximénez and Tronçais oak ex-Cognac casks. That is quite a mix.
This is the halo product, the bottle we all want to try and want to love. Its flavor is driven by waves of creamy chocolate, honey and orange zest, finishing with plenty of exotic fruit.
The age statement and cask variety offer so much for the whisky drinker. The price point is high, but that’s where old whisky from big distilleries currently sits.
In all honesty, when compared with some other large distilleries, this 25 Year Old is actually much more affordable. If you’ve got the money spare and you’re looking for a treat for yourself or someone else, this is a great bottle to go for. It is significantly more affordable than some of its competitors while offering flavors that can be just as interesting, if not more so.
3. The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Sample Room, 43%, $320 / £230
A similar story to the 25 Year Old, but this time ex-bourbon maturation is followed by time in first-fill ex-Oloroso casks, Tronçais ex-Cognac casks, and vintage Colheita Port casks.
This is easily my favorite of the older Glenlivet releases on the market right now. It’s about half the price of the 25 Year Old in the UK and, for me, offers even more flavor from those different cask influences.
It’s super complex and layered, with caramel, peaches, cinnamon, ginger, chocolate and some earthy notes of mint. For me, this is an excellent example of what Glenlivet can do when it wants to show off what is sitting in the distillery warehouses.
The only downside is the strength. I know that’s the broken-record cliché in the whisky world, but if this was bottled just a little higher at 46% or 48%, it could compete with some of the best older whiskies around.
Again, if you’re a fan of Glenlivet and want a treat for yourself, this is an excellent bottle to pour and savor over a few special occasions with friends, family, or just by yourself.
2. The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, 40%, $130 / £85
This was one of the bottles that got me interested in older single malt whiskies. I tried it at a tasting event and everything just clicked. It still does.
There is so much fresh citrus and creamy vanilla on the nose, followed by coconut and soft spice on the palate, with a decently long finish. That’s even after the ABV was lowered a few years ago from 43% to 40%.
The cask influences work so well here, with first- and second-fill American oak alongside some ex-sherry casks. It’s incredibly well balanced and approachable, and also a little cheaper than some of its rivals.
There are Speyside whiskies around this age that cost slightly less, but I think the Glenlivet 18 does more for the money you spend.
1. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old 200th Anniversary, 43%, $75 / £55
Easily my favorite in the current Glenlivet lineup is the 200th Anniversary release. A 12 Year Old Glenlivet at a slightly higher strength, matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. My literal dream.
This is a creamy, fruity, clean and bright single malt that reminds me exactly why I love Glenlivet 12, and why I have done for a decade and a half at this point.
The occasion behind the release, the higher strength and the cask selection all come together to make this a truly wonderful bottle within the current Glenlivet range, limited edition or not.
The only thing that plays against it is the occasion itself. I would have loved to see a Glenlivet 12 Year Old Cask Strength released for the 200th anniversary. That would be an instant buy for me.
Again, though, this does very, very well for what it is and what it sets out to do. If you’re into Glenlivet and want something with a little more punch while still remaining balanced, this is certainly for you. Alternatively, if you’re into sweet, creamy and fruity whiskies, this is definitely one to try.
Which Glenlivet Whisky Is Actually Worth Buying?
The two 12 Year Old releases almost top and tail this article, with the Founder’s Reserve sitting below them all. The less said about that one, the better.
That probably tells you plenty about my preferences. I tend to lean toward younger whiskies at slightly higher strengths, particularly when they offer a good balance between cask and spirit influence.
Older Glenlivet whiskies can be glorious, but their price points naturally make them less accessible.
Personally, I think Glenlivet is a brand that has produced so many different styles over the years that this more streamlined selection does make things easier for all of us.
If you’re already familiar with the brand, though, I’d go for something that offers a little more than the Glenlivet you normally experience.
Read the full article at The Glenlivet Ranked: Which Bottle Should You Buy First?
