Buyer's Guide

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96 The Glenlivet Cellar Collection, 1969 vintage, 50.8%, $750
It's great that Glenlivet releases whiskies under the "Cellar Collection" label. It really shows the true potential of Glenlivet. This bottling is classic ultra-matured Glenlivet, and rivals the 1959 vintage Cellar Collection as the best one ever. An incredibly complex whisky, with notes of vanilla, ripe barley, coconut, and caramel. All this is accentuated by glazed orange, hazelnut, and a potpourri of dried spices. Not the least bit tired for such an aged whisky. (Only 800 bottles for the U.S.)
(4th Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#4)


93 The Glenlivet Cellar Collection, 1964 vintage, 44.7%, $2,000
The fifth in a series of Glenlivet Cellar Collection whiskies. This is a very complex whisky, with exotic notes of oak, sultana, vanilla cream, almonds, and evergreen. These notes are quite floral on the nose and well balanced, with no hint of excessive aging. The palate is polished, deep, and continuously evolving, with a long spicy finish. The oak notes reveal that this whisky has some years on it, but they in no way dominate or detract from the other flavors. An outstanding effort! This rivals the 1959 vintages as the best of the Cellar Collection releases. You'll need deep pockets, though.
(4th Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#4)


93 The Glenlivet Archive (21 year old, 43%)
Amber chestnut color. Aromas of mature oak, leather, ripe fruit, and toffee, are very deep and well balanced. Its flavors are rich and enveloping, with notes of treacle, toffee, roasted nuts, and a long, spicy, woody finish that lingers.

Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: approx. $100. Limited availability. Imported by Seagram Americas, 212/572-7000.

This is the "Sean Connery" of whiskies-mature, sexy, rich, and debonair. Savor it after a long and successful day. Just don't rush the experience.
(1st Quarter 2000 Issue-Vol. 9#1)


92 The Glenlivet (1959, 42.28%)
Gold color. Subtle, yet complex aroma of exotic spices, tropical fruit, marzipan, and light toffee. Medium in body. On the palate, its flavors follow through with what the aroma promised, with more exotic spices, tropical fruit (especially coconut), and toasted marshmallow, with a soft, mellow, slightly dry and spicy finish.

Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Price: varies. Availability: 100 bottles for the U.S., only at select charity auctions throughout the United States. For more information, visit (imported by Pernod Ricard, 914/539-4500).

This whisky is surprisingly clean, fresh, balanced, and not excessively woody, considering its age. Only towards its fairly deep, long finish does it slowly begin to reveal its many years in oak. This is an exotic, subtly complex whisky, and my favorite of the "Cellar Collection" releases so far.
(1st Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#1)


91 Murray McDavid "Mission" (distilled at Glenlivet, 1974, 46%)
Deep gold color. Incredibly complex, subtle aromas of vanilla, honey, marshmallow, tropical fruit (pineapple, peaches, coconut), floral notes and a hint of almonds. Medium-full in body, and firm. On the palate, the flavors are complex and exhibit the same notes as the aroma, starting out gently sweet, but gradually becoming fruity and eventually drying out on the finish.

Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Price: $150. Limited to 600 bottles (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).

The best Glenlivet whiskies are incredibly complex, albeit sometimes subtly so. This is one of those whiskies. Its flavors continue to evolve and entertain the palate. Only on its finish does it begin to show its age-it is quite dry. However, I don't feel it is excessive, as it provides some balances with the honeyed sweetness of the whisky on the front end.
(3rd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#3)


90 Mackillop's Choice (distilled at Glenlivet), 27 year old, 1977 vintage, 43%, $125
A very clean whisky, with fragrant dried flowers, aromas of germinating barley, textured honey, vanilla waver, coconut cream and teasing fresh pineapple. Drying, delicately minty finish. For those who love the richly elegant, non-sherried style of older Glenlivet whiskies.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)


90 The Glenlivet Nàdurra, 16 year old, 57.2%, $60
Aged exclusively in first-fill bourbon casks and bottled unfiltered and at natural cask strength. This takes the usually subtle Glenlivet and makes it more vibrant, amplifying its flavors while accentuating the bourbon oak. Tight notes of honeyed malt, vanilla bean, toasted oak, bright fruit, and nuts, are peppered with more subtle floral and spice notes. Dry, spicy finish. A Glenlivet with pizzazz.
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)


90 The Glenlivet French Oak (12 year old, 40%)
Antique amber color. This whisky maintains the elegance cherished by Glenlivet enthusiasts, but finishing the whisky in limousin oak produces a whisky of deeper wood notes, particularly wood spices (vanilla, sandalwood, perhaps even mint) and floral notes. It's rich, complex, and dry-especially on the finish.

Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: approx. mid $30s. Limited availability. Imported by Seagram Americas, 212/572-7000.

If you like the standard Glenlivet 12 year old, but would like to see a little extra richness that new oak limousin casks can contribute, then this whisky is for you. If there is a trade-off, it's that the oak dominates some of the delicate fruit on the palate-a sacrifice worth taking, in my opinion.
(1st Quarter 2000 Issue-Vol. 9#1)


90 Duncan Taylor (distilled at Glenlivet) 1968 Vintage, 35 year old, 43.1% ABV, $155
Younger bottlings of Glenlivet are often quite elegant and subtle. But such finesse isn't always evident in older expressions, which often become dominated by sherry and oak. This one, at 35 years of age, demonstrates plenty of elegance and finesse. What impresses me most about this whisky is that you wouldn't know it was 35 year old just by taste. It isn't the least bit tired on the palate, and it is very clean, without the excessive woodiness often found in whiskies of this age. Plus, the balance of flavors is impeccable-vanilla, honeyed malt, peaches, pineapple, heather, and just a touch of oak. A very polished, refined whisky.
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)


89 The Glenlivet Cellar Collection (1983 Vintage, 46%)
Style: Speyside single malt scotch Color: Amber Aroma: Rich and rather full for Glenlivet, with nuts and fruit, drenched with layers of toffee and caramel. Palate: Rich and enveloping-almost chewy-with notes of toffee and caramel up front. Delicate fruit, nuts and spice emerge mid-palate, adding complexity, becoming dry with a long spicy finish

General Comments: There have now been four releases of the Glenlivet Cellar Collection: a 1967 Vintage, a 30 year old American Oak Finish (which wasn't released in the U.S.), the 1959 Vintage, and now this 1983 Vintage French Oak Finish. This is my second favorite of the group, after the 1959 Vintage. This one is big in flavor. No doubt the new French oak aging has given the whisky some additional backbone and that woody, spicy, dryish finish, which, incidentally, works nicely with the chewy sweetness on the front of the palate. It's never dull, and the flavors continue to evolve on the palate. Price: approx. $200. Available in selected markets (imported by Pernod Ricard, USA, 914/539-4500).
(4th Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#4)


89 Scott's Selection (distilled at Glenlivet), 27 year old, 1977 Vintage, 53.1%, $165
Very stylish. Quite refined too, with notes of vanilla, peaches and flowering currant. The whisky is very soft on the palate, delicate and almost bashful at times. Indeed, it may take a couple of dates with this whisky for it to fully to reveal itself. The whisky finishes toasty, with a pleasing cereal grain maltiness. Some whiskies are great after dinner; others make wonderful pre-dinner drams. This one is great anytime.
3rd Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#3)


89 Glenlivet Archive, 21 year old, 43%, $130
New packaging and new whisky too-sort of. According to Glenlivet's whisky maker Jim Cryle, Archive is now being bottled in smaller batches, allowing them to be more selective in the casks used to improve its quality and flavor. I believe that it has worked. It tastes more refined. Along with Archive's signature creamy toffee notes, I'm picking up beautiful floral, vanilla, and fruity notes (peaches, pineapple, coconut) on the nose and palate, with subtler nutty, anise threads throughout. An elegant expression of Glenlivet.
(1st Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#1)


89 The Glenlivet Cellar Collection, 1972 vintage, 52.3%, $700
Lovely bouquet of dried citrus fruit, honeyed apricot and plum, complemented by exotic wood spice, malty vanilla, and a hint of mint and anise. Similar follow-through on the palate, with the sweeter notes up front, full fruit impact mid-palate, leading to a dry, peppery, exotic wood spice finish. The whisky evolves on the palate and is very impressive, with its only blemish being a bit too dry and oaky on the finish.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)


88 Signatory (distilled at Glenlivet), 25 year old, 1980 vintage, cask #13735, 53.9%, $160
Very fragrant. Spicy too, with notes of honeyed vanilla, peaches in cream, butterscotch, cinnamon, licorice (red and black), light nuttiness, and toasted oak on the finish. Nice mouthfeel, well-balanced, and quite rich for such an elegant whisky.
(1st Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#1)


88 Peerless (distilled at Glenlivet, 1968, 34 year old, 45.9%)
Deep gold color. Exotic aroma of tropical fruit (coconut, pineapple), vanilla, and honey. Medium bodied and firm. On the palate: honey, vanilla, and tropical fruit up front, becoming dry, with subtly complex spice notes. Deep, dry, lingering finish.

Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $95. Available at select retailers (imported by Duncan Taylor & Co, 323/960-9065).

This whisky is similar to some of the other better bottlings of 30-plus year old Glenlivet (like the recent distillery 1959 bottling). There's a nice balance of flavors for a whisky of such great age, and with plenty of depth. It's dry on the palate, but never excessively so. A very soothing whisky.
(2nd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#2)


88 Lonach (distilled at Glenlivet), 34 year old, 1971 vintage, 40%, $160
Lively on the nose for its age (and on the palate too-the tell-tale oak emerges only towards the end). Notes of creamy vanilla, barley sugar, coconut, pineapple, and general citrus notes throughout. Dried spices (especially cinnamon) kick in mid-palate and continue into a lengthy, dry, polished oak finish.
(2nd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#2)


87 The Glenlivet Cellar Collection (1967, 46%)
Deep gold color. A very delightful aroma that defies its age, with notes of rich creamy vanilla, exotic tropical fruit, honey, and toasted oak. Rich, mouth coating texture and body. Its flavor starts out like its aroma-creamy vanilla, tropical fruit, honey-then turns dry and becomes very dry, leathery, and oaky on the finish. Soothing, long dry finish.

Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: approximately $200. Very limited availability-only 1,200 bottles for the United States (imported by Seagram Americas, 212/572-7000).

This is the first in a series of limited edition Glenlivets under the Cellar Collection rubric. It is a whisky of great depth and doesn't really show its age until about halfway through on the palate, when it comes on fairly strong with a woody dryness. While it is a wonderful whisky, I would like to have tried it a few years younger where I feel it probably peaked in flavor. Still, it is well worth the price of admission.
(4th Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#4)


87 The Glenlivet French Oak Reserve 15 year old, 40%, $50
I enjoy Glenlivet whisky for its subtle elegance, floral notes, along with a delicious "peaches & cream" flavor. For this particular whisky, finishing some of the whisky in new French oak barrels adds depth, dried spice (vanilla, clove) and pleasing dryness to the Glenlivet profile. This whisky is more polished and refined than the 12 year old expression it replaces.
(1st Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#1)


86 Cadenhead's (distilled at Glenlivet, 12 year old, 60.5%)
Amber gold color. Rather sweet aroma and flavors of caramel, light toffee, almonds, and vanilla. A background note of fruit (lemon? ripe cherries?) contributes to its complexity. Its body is somewhat rich and chewy. A dryness on the finish keeps the sweetness of the whisky in check.

Style: Speyside single malt scotch. Price: high $90s. Available nationwide (imported by Preiss Imports, 760/789-6010).

This whisky is richer and fuller than the distillery bottling, but less delicate. A very soothing whisky.
(1st Quarter 2002 Issue-Vol. 11#1)


83 Cask & Thistle (distilled at Glenlivet), 30 year old, 1973 Vintage, 46%, $100
Its deep amber/ruby color suggests a lot of sherry, and one whiff confirms. The whisky is rich and sappy in texture, with lush notes of ripe sherry fruit balanced by dry, mature spicy oak. There's a pleasant soothing texture to the whisky too, but I do struggle to find the subtle complexities which make some bottlings of Glenlivet so special. There's just so much oak and sherry dominating. At its best after dinner or with a cigar.
(1st Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#1)



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