The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve
March 2019

The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve

In a massive coup for the Club we teamed up with the biggest name in single malt to bring our Members the mighty Glenlivet finished in Cognac casks for the first time ever.

United Kingdom

Colour Rich Gold

Nose Sweet and fruity aromas of honey and apricot jam, with notes of cinnamon bread and a subtle sensation of spicy liquorice

Palate Succulent flavours of mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate dipped raisins

Finish Incredibly smooth and luscious with sweet notes of dried fruit and just a hint of spice

Food Match Scallop marinated in Japanese ginger-soy sauce, seared with black garlic and cinnamon

Overview

The latest addition to the collection is the Captain’s Reserve, named for Captain William (Bill) Smith Grant, none other than George Smith’s great grandson. The good Captain served in France during World War 1, so who better to dedicate the distillery’s first ever Cognac finished whisky to?

A bold experiment resulting in what’s claimed to be the first major single malt finished in Cognac casks, the Captain’s Reserve features layer upon layer of complexity and flavour that only maturation in multiple types of casks can create.

Matured in a mixture of American Oak ex-Bourbon casks, first fill Sherry casks, and then ex-Cognac casks, the Captain’s Reserve is full of flavour – the light and fruity Glenlivet spirit combining honey and spicy notes with mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate dipped raisins coming through in spades thanks to more than six months in ex-Cognac casks.

Bottled with no age statement at an easy drinking 40%, this is a seriously sessionable whisky that isn’t going to last long on your whisky shelf (it hasn’t on ours…) and you won’t see the Captain’s Reserve on shelves locally until 2020, so we’d suggest doubling up to keep you going until then. Captain’s orders!

THE SPECS

Price: $105.00

Age: No Age Statement

ABV: 40%

Maturation: Matured in first fill American Oak, first fill European ex-sherry casks and ex-cognac casks

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Glenlivet's History

Known as ‘the single malt that started it all’, Glenlivet Distillery was established in 1824 by farmer George Smith and was the first distillery in the Speyside region to be licensed under the new Excise Act of 1823. As we’ve explored in previous months, due to unfavourable legislation Scotland was a hotbed of illegal distillation for much of the 18th and early 19th century but the Excise Act provided a sensible framework upon which to bring the small operators in from the black market and create a scalable industry that has subsequently grown in to the multi-billion dollar powerhouse that it is today.

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Distillery Facts

Region: Speyside

Origin: The Glenlivet Distillery
 Ballindalloch 
Banffshire
 AB37 9DB, Scotland, United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

Water Source: Josie’s Well

Washbacks: 16, Wood

Stills: 7 wash and 7 spirit

Capacity: 850,000 litres per annum

Ready to enjoy a world-class whisky collection?

Your free Club Membership gives access to exclusive single malt from Scotland, Australia and the world’s best distilleries. Enjoy the unrivalled buying power of Australia's biggest whisky club.

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