Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
When you marry into a family of Scotch enthusiasts, you are going to have to drink Scotch. This is hard for me because Scotch doesn’t agree with my palate. To me, it tastes like band-aids and smells like McDonald’s soap. I think we can all agree those are two things you probably don’t want to consume. However, my never-ending quest to find a Scotch that doesn’t suck led me to Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve.
Technically, this bottle of Scotch was not intended for me. I purchased it as a late-night sipper for friends and family who were attending Alie’s sister’s wedding. The resort bar closed early, but many guests stayed by the fire until the wee hours of the morning. Alie and I brought various whiskeys to enjoy while sharing stories and making new friends. Honestly, it gave me a chance to share much of my newly gained knowledge.
Somehow, this bottle of Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve managed to stay sealed, so we bought it home to enjoy.
The Glenlivet
Founder’s Reserve Single Malt Whisky comes from The Glenlivet Distillery in Glenlivet, Scotland. The Glenlivet is the oldest licensed distiller in the region. Although the company began as an illegal distillery in 1822, the founder George Smith moved quickly under new legislation in 1824 to become the first licensed distiller in Scotland.
This move angered other distillers in the region who had hoped the law would be ignored and thus would have to be repealed. Due to his acceptance of the new law and his new distilling license, George Smith received a number of threats, which he responded to by carrying two pistols. Luckily for George Smith, many in the Speyside region eventually embraced the licensing requirements under the new law, so he never had to use those pistols.
The Glenlivet is one of the most recognized Speyside brands. According to the Whiskey Exchange, The Glenlivet is also one of the top 3 selling Scottish single malts. Even if you are like me and don’t care for Scotch, you’ll probably recognize The Glenlivet name. To learn more about what makes Scotch different from bourbon, make sure you check out our article here.
Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is a single malt Scotch first bottled in 2014. Founder’s Reserve is a NAS (no age statement) whisky. The Glenlivet website indicates Founder’s Reserve is a mix of single malt of various ages from both traditional-aged oak casks, and first-fill American Oak casks. The lack of an age statement gives The Glenlivet the ability to create a whisky true to the character of the Speyside region. I was hopeful that the new oak casks would enhance the flavor and perhaps filter some of the plastic taste I was anticipating.
Tasting Notes
I was pleasantly surprised by the aroma of The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve. It was sweet vanilla and flowers on the nose. Usually, I find the smell of Scotch offputting, so this was a welcomed surprise. Alie also noticed the sweet aroma and picked up hints of sweet pome fruit.
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve did taste nearly as sweet as it smelled. I noticed a little taste of old wood that was a bit musty. However, I mostly noticed a fragrant and floral taste. It tasted like a flower. That might seem like a bad thing, but considering my general disdain for Scotch, it was actually good. No band-aids were found here.
Alie noticed the initial sweet taste of the whiskey. For her, the sweetness then fades into a traditional Scotch flavor. She noted that it had a medium burn that lingered on her tongue. It finished more like a bourbon than some of the Scotches she’s enjoyed before.
I also noticed the lingering heat that stuck around for a few seconds after finishing a sip. It was a nice warm intensity that sat at the back of my tongue and throat. This bottle warmed us up nicely as we sat by the campfire on our recent trip’s coldest and rainiest night.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 3.6
Intensity: 3
Personal Preference: 3
Beginner Friendly: 4.2
Availability: 5
Overall: 3.2
Final Thoughts
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is an excellent starter bottle of Scotch. It’s a good pour for someone who doesn’t care for the heavily peat-smoked Scotch varieties. The mix of single malt aged in used casks and new American Oak casks brings out the best flavors in this single malt. You’ll definitely notice the hints of sweet vanilla, which reminded me of bourbon and American single malts.
Alie noted that while The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve was a decent Scotch there are others she would reach for before this one. If you enjoy something more traditional, you won’t miss out if you pass on this bottle.
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is a reasonably priced bottle of Scotch. I picked it up for $36.99 at a local store. The price seems to run between $35 and $45 in most places it is sold. Because The Glenlivet is a widely distributed brand, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding this in your local liquor store.
The biggest compliment I can give The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is that I opted for a second pour while enjoying the rain falling as we sat by the campfire. Although Founder’s Reserve might not impress the most hardcore Scotch fans, we definitely enjoyed this bottle and think you will too.
Happy Exploring!
