“Powerless (Say What You Want)”
Whisky Review # 1040
Region: Speyside
Brand: Glenlivet XXV
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Batch # unknown
Age: 25 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (2Y)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (2Y)
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Average: US$ 400-500 (November 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It can't be cheap but at 43% the price should be lower
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It can't be cheap but at 43% the price should be lower
Buying Advice: 😐 It's a very nice Sherried Speysider but it lacks power.
Color:
Color:
Dark Amber with shades of Brown (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Nose:
Sweet and Sour with clear and clean Sherry Cask influence. Lots of Dark Fruit and Caramel notes. It brings images of a private English club for Whisky, Brandy and Cigar lovers. It's a bit on the Thin side on account of the relatively low ABV. Not bad though!
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Caramel, Treacle, Wax, Dried Fruit like Plums, Figs, Apricots, Raisins and Apples, (Dark) Red Berries & Cherries, Banana Bread, Grass and Straw, Dark Chocolate, Polished Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves & Aniseed.
Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Caramel, Treacle, Wax, Dried Fruit like Plums, Figs, Apricots, Raisins and Apples, (Dark) Red Berries & Cherries, Banana Bread, Grass and Straw, Dark Chocolate, Polished Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves & Aniseed.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Demerara Sugar, Pear, Citrus Peel, Marzipan, Sugared Nuts, Dusty Shelves with Old Books in a Damp Cellar, Dusty Track, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Green Leaves, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Mint and hints of Metal and Rubber.
Honey, Toffee, Demerara Sugar, Pear, Citrus Peel, Marzipan, Sugared Nuts, Dusty Shelves with Old Books in a Damp Cellar, Dusty Track, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Green Leaves, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Mint and hints of Metal and Rubber.
Thin delivery on account of the insufficient ABV. Mostly Sweet and Sour with a few Bitter and Waxy notes for contrast. It's certainly not bad but it cries out for some extra Alcohol.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Apples Apricots, Plums, Figs and Prunes, Dark Berries & Cherries, Wax, Dark Chocolate, Orange, Grass and Straw, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cardamom.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Leather, Tobacco, Citrus Peel, Marzipan, Banana Bread, Old Books, Dusty Track, Ginger, Menthol, Licorice, Cloves and Green Leaves.
Finish:
Middle-Long but a bit on the Thin side. A mix of Bitter Sweet and Sour notes. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Treacle, Vanilla, Honey, Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots, Apples and Plums, Dark Berries & Cherries, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Dark Espresso, Wax, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger & Menthol. Medium-Dry & a little Musty. My least favorite part of this XXV.
Middle-Long but a bit on the Thin side. A mix of Bitter Sweet and Sour notes. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Treacle, Vanilla, Honey, Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots, Apples and Plums, Dark Berries & Cherries, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Dark Espresso, Wax, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger & Menthol. Medium-Dry & a little Musty. My least favorite part of this XXV.
Drinking Advice:
No Need to add Water to this XXV. It's Thin enough as presented.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 8 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good but it lacks punch
Conclusion:
The Glenlivet Distillery is located in Ballindalloch (Banfshire) and was founded in 1824 by George Smith. Since 2001 it is owned by Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard In 2018 a new production extension became operational that has increased the production to around 21 million litres making it the largest Single Malt distillery in Scotland. The core range includes The Founder's Reserve (NAS), The Captain's Reserve (NAS), The Caribbean Reserve (NAS) and the 12, 15 and 18 Years.
The Glenlivet Distillery is located in Ballindalloch (Banfshire) and was founded in 1824 by George Smith. Since 2001 it is owned by Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard In 2018 a new production extension became operational that has increased the production to around 21 million litres making it the largest Single Malt distillery in Scotland. The core range includes The Founder's Reserve (NAS), The Captain's Reserve (NAS), The Caribbean Reserve (NAS) and the 12, 15 and 18 Years.
The XXV is a well-made clear & clean Sherried Speysider that enjoyed good cask-management. And it comes in a beautiful bottle and cask. But why on earth the producers would cherish this Whisky for 25 years and then offer it at 43%. Mind you it's still a nice Single Malt but it totally lacks power and punch, something you should be able to expect at this price level. At this price level the consumers would be glad to spend an extra 50 bucks for a decent ABV. Sometimes it's difficult to understand the policy of a distillery. The Glenlivet is Scotland's largest Single Malt Distillery that already produces lots of Mainstream Malts. If they make something special on the side it should be really special. And the XXV is not something really special I'm afraid. It's just a good Single Malt and that's not enough at this price level.
Cheers 🥃
