[Event]

MHB’s Esther Ng and I attended the launch of The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve in Malaysia on 7 November 2016. The new non age statement expression from Glenlivet is a new, permanent addition to the brand’s core range, featuring the classic fruity flavours of The Glenlivet, and a tribute to its founder George Smith’s original vision to craft the definitive, smooth single malt whisky.

The Founder’s Reserve stays true to The Glenlivet’s heritage, and utilises the same distilling methods used in 1824, in unique, wide lantern-shaped copper stills created by Smith himself almost 200 years ago. For this new expression, Master Distiller Alan Winchester has complemented the fruitiness of the Founder’s Reserve with the creaminess and sweetness from the addition of First Fill American oak casks. The result is a well-balanced and smooth whisky that is remarkably easy to drink yet complex enough to be savoured.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Delicate aromas of citrus fruit, notably sweet orange

Palate: Sweet, fruit notes of zesty orange and pears, with a hint of candy, toffee apples. Well-balanced and exceptionally smooth

Finish: Long, creamy and smooth

This new single malt is presented in a clear glass bottle, highlight the pale gold colour liquid inside. The packaging is very attractive and Georgian Blue in colour, with a classic yet contemporary look. The new signifier for The Glenlivet, featuring the Packhorse Bridge which crosses the River Livet (where the name Glenlivet comes from), appears on both the bottle ‘cartouche’ and on the lid of the carton, with George Smith’s signature on the front face of the carton, designed to stand-out on shelf.

We got to have a private preview with Darren Hosie, Regional Brand Ambassador and Mentoring Manager of Chivas Brothers, who introduced the Founder’s Reserve and conducted the tasting of the Founder’s Reserve

Esther with Darren Hosie and Sébastien Mouquet, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Malaysia

Sébastien Mouquet, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Malaysia

Master Distiller Alan Winchester describes his latest creation, “For the Founder’s Reserve, we have the liberty to pick the casks that taste the best. I’m sure George would have been impressed by the choice we have today, and would have enjoyed selecting from so many casks – I know we do. We’ve tried to stay true to his original vision to create the definitive smooth Speyside malt, where quality is paramount.”

The Glenlivet Malaysia Brand Manager Benedict Yong adds, “As the Founder’s Reserve is an incredibly smooth single malt, we believe this new expression will become the new favourite for those who are new to single malts as they start their journey down the more complex flavours in the rest of The Glenlivet range of whiskies.”

The Founder’s Reserve won the Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016, as well as a Gold Medal at The Spirits Masters 2015.

The Founder’s Reserve will be available at selected bars and retail outlets nationwide at the same price as The Glenlivet 12 Year Old. 

More info at https://www.theglenlivet.com

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Published by Tim Chew

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