4 Whiskeys You Have to Taste

by Alyssa Ramos

Some of the many perks of being in PR is that you get to attend great events, meet tons of amazing people, and go home with some awesome gift bag swag. Last night’s Glenlevit private whiskey tasting event put on by Stadiumred at Scarpetta was definitely one I didn’t want to miss. Especially because it included a whiskey guide to explain facts and flavors, and who doesn’t love a knowledgable whiskey girl?

In the private upstairs dining room of Scarpetta in the Montage hotel, nicely dressed guests (the fashion staple being pant-jumpers for ladies) gathered around two sponsor tables while being served a signature Glenlevit cocktail. Breitling showed off their aviation-themed watch collection, while Book a Tailor explained their custom made clothing process.

As expected with the intricate, interconnected PR web, five other PR friends showed up, making for an even more promising fun night of whiskey drinking. We were seated at the twenty person long Last Supper looking table in the narrow Cherry Oak paneled room where a prix fix menu was placed in front of us.

As we went through the courses, the whiskey guide presented us with four classic Glenlevit whiskeys while he explained their flavors and craft facts, including the important fact that whiskey should be tasted straight up first, then with the addition of some water, which opens up the flavors like Oxygen does to wine.

1. The 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve

Character: The rich and exotic one
Colour: Deep and intense gold
Nose: Creamy and rich with buttery notes
Palate: Fruity, nutty flavours
Finish: Lingering trace of sweet almonds and hints of spice

Craft Fact: The Glenlivet was one of the first distilleries to use French Oak in the whisky making process, which increases the intensity of whisky, resulting in a richer and creamier finish.

2. The Glenlivet 18 Year Old

Character: The balanced and elegant one
Colour: Old gold with apricot hues
Nose: Rich fruit aromas and toffee notes
Palate: Wonderfully balanced, with bursts of sweet oranges
Finish: Long, with spice and moist raisin notes

Craft Facts: This edition is made from a combination of casks including European Oak which imparts spicy hints and brings additional complexity, and first-fill American Oak that adds tropical fruitiness.

3. The Glenlivet 21 Year Old

Character: The mature and debonair one
Colour: Amber with sparkling copper shades
Nose: Aromas of dried fruit with a sherry influence
Palate: Cinnamon and ginger with a syrupy mouth feel
Finish: Lasting and warm with a hint of toasted hazelnuts

Craft Facts:  The 21 Year Old is produced in small, bespoke batches, each cask is nosed and approved, making every batch unique. A sizable inventory of whisky of this age is extremely rare and only the best are selected for this expression. The complex combination of cask types imparts richness, intensity and a long finish to the whisky.

4. The Glenlivet XXV

Character: The intense and opulent one
Colour: Rich amber with ripe gold hues
Nose: Dark chocolate with scents of dried sultanas
Palate: Silky, sweet and caressing with cinnamon notes
Finish: Incredibly long, rich and balanced

Craft Facts: The XXV is a batch-produced whisky finished in individually selected ex-sherry butts. The Oloroso-soaked oak imparts a nutty spiciness and enriches the flavour of the expression. Each cask is individually monitored in the finishing process to ensure only the subtlest sherry tones are added to this intense, silky and elegant whisky.

For more information see The Glenlivet website.