Glenlivet 18 Year Old

A very easy drinking one indeed. Subtle complexity and natural sweetness. I got raisins quite strongly on the nose, and some soft sherry spices. For me, for a "standard" line Glenlivet, this sits at the top of the list so far (not counting Nadurra as it's not really part of the "standard" vertical line up).

I don't know... personally I have yet to be impressed with anything from Glenlivet. This one was no different for me...

@CanadianNinja Perhaps you've been spoiled! I see what you're saying though. I can see the mass market appeal of Glenlivet and the 18yo is no different. Would I drink it in preference to "insert name of a natural cask strength whisky from an indie distiller here"? Probably not. Would I turn down a dram of Glenlivet 18 if offered? Certainly not. In the context of a mass produced Single Malt, I really enjoyed it. Horses for courses, each to their own, and all that.

I once tried a stunning un-adulterated, first fill sherry, single cask version of Glenlivet at an SMWS tasting (I don't have the bottle code on hand). You may have approved of that one.

Glenlivet are capable of producing stunning whisky, as with most other uber-branded distilleries. It is definitely a pity that we don't see official bottlings like the one I described above.

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying that there isn't anything out there from Glenlivet that I would like. I'm just saying I have yet to come across something that I would purchase a second bottle of.

The 18 yo was highly recommended to me by a friend. Unfortunately after trying it I regretted the purchase! Oh well, such is the whisky journey ;)

Time to jump in here!

@Systemdown thanks again for the sample! I need to get some more samples out to you before we fly out! So much to do!!!!!! It was in my opinion the best of the Glenlivet's that I've tried so far, hands down.

@CanadianNinja I totally understand where you're coming from. This for me was the standout of the Glenlivet lineup and something that made me do a little sigh of relief as the rest of the Glenlivet's I've tried really haven't impressed me too much. This isn't a whisky that I'd run out and buy mind you, but for someone looking for easy drinking or just starting their whisky journey, I'd happily start them here (and totally bypass the 12 year old in the process). I personally believe in doing a price point thing in my reviews as if people are interested in a whisky it gives them an idea on what to expect to pay and I hope helps them from overpaying for a whisky. I'm personally hoping to encounter something very sexy cask strength wise at Glenlivet while in Scotland so I do have my fingers crossed, and I'm an ambassador for them so I'm supposed to have access to some sort of members library with special Glenlivets in it for us to try, but we'll see how it goes.

I like the Glenlivet 21 yo Archive myself. (Thanks, @MichaelSchout.)So far that is the only Glenlivet which has made much of an impression on me.

Never got a chance to try that one @Victor. Silly question, but is that one more intense? I know intense and Glenlivet don't normally go together in the same sentence other then "Glenlivet isn't intense" but that's something I'd love to see! A dark brooding Glenlivet!

@SquidgyAsh, there is a strong, but not excessive, wood influence in the 21 yo Archive that I like. As Glenlivet goes, the flavours are pretty intense. I like it quite a lot. Not inexpensive to buy a bottle, though.

@victor, @SquidgyAsh, I would definitely recommend to try some indie Glenlivet, the 21yo from Gordon&MacPhails is great (at least my bottle which s from around 2006) and ranks way above the official bottling. @SquidgyAsh, if you are willing to pay a bit more on your trip to scotland try to get your hands on a bottle of older GM Glenlivet - the 1963/2010, the 1965 and 1968 are truly great ones...

Great advice Maltster! Thanks buddy!!

Wow. I find it mildly depressing that the overall majority judges this malt to be "ho-hum" at best. I bought a bottle to try - and after drinking it "carefully" I went back for a second one - a week later! Personally, I have no preference when it comes to which "camp" I visit, (blends vs single malt) I like what I like. And "I like" a few different whiskys - (all scotch). Some I favour exhibit considerable peat and/or smoke (Lagavulin 16 comes to mind)- and yet others I fancy tend to yield a more fruity experience, (such as this Glenlivet 18). I found it to be pleasant - both to nose and its flavor bouquet - "fit for everyday use". It is competent sipped with or without a splash of water and being American - I often add a few cubes of ice, particularly in the summer. I find its taste pleasant - dependable - it provides a positive dram memory for sure. Of course, the journey is long - and there are many miles yet untraveled! But for me - thus far - it rates in the 90's of its price class - IMHO. ($103 USD).