For a year now I've been getting whisky samples from distilleries and importers and this is great, there's no denying it. I get the chance to try all sorts of really cool whiskies that I normally wouldn't, but what has happened as a result of receiving all of these cool samples is that there oftentimes isn't a cool story behind me tasting it. It's just an incident of me receiving a sample, what are the tasting notes and what I think of the whisky.

Because of this I've found that I'm writing less and that when I write I don't take as much pleasure in it as I used to. I love this whisky, if you can't tell, but Vinesh looks at me after his dram and says "I don't like it, at all, totally not my thing, I can't stand it" Now the price. Well I go through a couple 12 YO, 16 YO bottles for about 45.00-65.00 US dollars. I spring for a 18YO around 90.00-110.00 US Dollars and I can honestly say price wise they were good value for the money. In just two years after the act, the number of licensed distilleries doubled and legal whisky production rose from two million to six million gallons a year. Glenlivet was so prestigious that it gave its name to the whole region, now known as Speyside. To help preserve his brand, George Smith’s son, John Gordon Smith, applied for sole rights to the name, which were granted in 1884 but allowed other producers to hyphenate it with their own names eg. Glenfarclas-Glenlivet, which is still seen today, though very rarely. Which is why the original is known grandly as THE Glenlivet to differentiate itself from all those hyphenated Glenlivets. When you ask someone about famous Scotch brands, Glenlivet usually is one of the first that comes to mind. Like many of its Highlands and Speyside siblings, the Glenlivet has a long and distinct history of selling delicious Scotches. I’ve greatly enjoyed the Glenlivet Nadurra FF2015 and Glenlivet Nadurra 16. The 16 is one of my personal favorites, but unfortunately discontinued. The Glenlivet 25-year is especially special because it’s one of the the oldest you can buy.The other two guys just stared at us in confusion, not quite getting why Othmar and I were so excited. Othmar and I stared at one another in amazement, the nose was lovely, the palate to die for, unfreaking believable! Half an hour, 45 minutes later Othmar, myself and a couple of guys that Othmar knew swung by the Glenlivet stand, glencairns in hand. Smith began production in Upper Drumin, on the land he leased from his landlord the Duke of Gordon, and exactly 25 years later a second distillery was opened to meet rising demand. The Cairngorm-Delnabo Distillery, as it was called, proved unable to quell demand even with production output doubled, and construction began on a final larger distillery which would centralize the work and consolidate the operation. Nose: Sherry-derived purple grape and orange. Vanilla-smooth yet with that sharp sherry overtone like almond skins. Eventually... seems less fruity and more malty, like walnut baklava.

The finish lasts forever, with the fruit, peaches, pears and spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, lasting forever, lingering on and on before finally vanishing with just the slightest wisp of spice. Once we tried it, he totally agreed with me about how nasty it was. I couldn't stop laughing due to his facial expression. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, they lie, it's worth at least a million words.My very good Connosr buddy, Othmar, who many may know as Systemdown, lives in Brisbane, so I talked to the guys and asked if they'd mind if I went to Brisbane.

I try to help everyone in the whisky industry in Australia, and to be honest anywhere else in the world. I figure that the more exposure that good whisky gets around the country and indeed the world, the more selection that myself and other whisky geeks get access to. For both Othmar and myself it was easily the whisky of the show. Mindblowing, special, epic, words wouldn't do that whisky or even the moment in time justice. When he'd returned he invited Squidgy and myself to his house for whiskies and cigars and a surprise. Once we arrived he grinned at me, a huge Cuban cigar in his mouth, and held up the Glenlivet 25 year old box. I originally got my start writing about whisky talking about the important things. These things were not just tasting notes, or the history of the distillery or the history of the barrel. We deliver to a number of international destinations including the USA. Please use the 'Change Location' link above for an estimate in your local currency or find out more about international delivery

Awards for The Glenlivet XXV

Toffee, sultanas, figs, honey, red vine liquorice, pears, citrus fruits, oranges, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, sherry, creme brulee, delicious, so very delicious. We take great pride in setting the standard that all other Speyside single malts are measured by and our dedicated distillery collection is the culmination of our 200 years of experience. These exclusive bottles are usually only available directly from our distillery gift shop but are now available for delivery to your doorstep. Each of these unique expressions captures The Glenlivet’s signature style and the spirit of the glen itself. Indulging in a distinctive drop from the comfort of your own home is the next best thing to a visit to our home in Speyside. Therefore, it was a natural leap to legal production when the Excise Act and one of its greatest proponents, Duke Alexander Gordon, gave Smith a bit of a push towards the straight and narrow path. Finish: Lightens significantly, to light nectarine caramel, while continued exhaling provides nutmeg or those almond skins, plus raisin and vanilla. So what did I experience? Its very smooth and rich in flavor with a hint of spice and not earthy and at the end. The @43% ABV is good for my palate, you don't sacrifice the smooth flow and flavors that higher ABV would overpower.