~Liquid Gold in Green Bottle~ from French Woods. Review on Glenlivet 15 French Oak Reserve

'Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough.~ Mark Twain.

Above quote apply to Glenlivet 15 year Old(French Oak Reserve) 100%.

First time I tested the Glenlivet suggested by my friend, and yeah I kind of tested it that was Glenlivet 12 and First time I realized the impression of ‘Single Malt’ and it was absolutely awesome!

So where the 15 years come in picture?:D based on previous experience I requested by friend to get Glenlivet 12 for me from duty free shop and He Got 15 years French Oak Reserve and I had to pay$40 extra since he got it. Of course later I realized that I got more then what I bargain for.

So now I got Glenlivet and magic began. Glenlivet Classic 1L bottle with Cork seal I opened with Great expectations and the movement I taken bit of smell my all emotions started to flow on the wave of French Oak flavor. I was wondering how I am going to make the most of 1 Liter Finest sprit and I started to Plan my auspicious drinking ritual:D .

It was cloudy mid August evening back in 2009 somewhat drizzling out side around 7~30 Pm and I was alone with whisky Glass, 3-4 cubes of ice and Liquid gold in Green Bottle and. the sacred ritual started.

I open the bottle stated to pore liquid gold in the wide whisky glass and gently French Oak flavor walked in my living room with mist of cold rainy spice and it spread all over my surrounding and I was envelop completely with the spirit of French Oak forest, this was followed by the sound of ice cubes trembling in the glass and glittering eyes and Smile on my Face.

I started to take sip after sip.and with each drink I was stepping on next cloud after another, in late evening I as far as I remember I was high somewhere around cloud 9 and surrounded by some blurry lassie faces. Eventually on the corner of cloud 9 I met two drunken strangers me and myself and we had big argument with them over the names of those enigmatic faces I stumbled upon.

Movement next a shining flash on the dark horizon follow by knocking sound of thunder which was enough to get me back to present from the past, on the journey back to present the mile stone I saw was 20.

Now I was alone staring at passing backs of disappearing'ME' and'MYSELF' on the flickering horizon, one cold dampish empty glass in my hand, some few scribbled faded memories on the misty wall of preset and the Green bottle with lingering thought in my mind to decide if bottle was half empty or it was half full, followed by drop of fretting sweat on my nose.

Rest is history .I do not recall it should I say as the wicked writer in me is still drunk and even as I am writing this review by bearing one thought in my mind ‘one should not try to hold the distinct fading memories so just let them go and let God’.

Coming back to preset where we started to discuss about this Liquid Gold

The Glenlivet distillery is the oldest legal distillery in Glenlivet stared in 1824 and it is categorized as a Speyside distillery. To mature the whiskey Glenlivet uses the Bourbon Cask(French Oak) [* as far as I believe this is the only time French and British came on same page: D]

COLOUR: Deep gold, with intense late afternoon summer sunshine shades.

NOSE: Oak tenderly enhances bit sweet with smoky oak, releases very light Oak aroma when added a few drops of water in it.

TASTE : - the movement you take a sip of this whiskey first it starts with the nose as nose is the encounter the ally with the glass this you take a sip of Glenlivet with Oak flavor. The test of Glenlivet remains consistent till the last drink. Every time I drink Glenlivet it revels its new secrets so its too little to write about its finest test of sprit as each sip Glenlivet stats to enrich your entire test senses and takes you on the wave of oak flavor gently all the way.

My Suggestion to Enjoy Glenlivet:

I Always GO straight. For you, you can go straight if not then go for on rocks. Please make sure the ice is made up of spring water(you get in super markets). Because if you use ice with normal drinking water it will spoil the test as this water is treaded with CLORIN. Do not use carbonated water this will spoil the test and aroma of whisky as well.

Food as Side dishes you might want go for few good quality of Cheese; do not eat spicy food which will dominate the flavor of Glenlivet. Nice choice would some roasted cashew nuts. Or roasted potato with pinch of sea salt and chips. Avoid garlic, and dishes with fried onion. I would not suggest cocktails for this kind of any Single malt whiskies because each Single malt whisky has its own distinct blend gained by maturing it for over the period of 12 to 18 years. In my opinion you pay the price for the Single malt and value you get in term of its blend which takes 12 to 18 years to mature. So If you mix Single malt with other ingredients then you are spoiling the whisky. If so then I would advice you to go for any chip whiskey rather then wasting your money for the blend you paid for and destroyed by your stupidity.

For me drinking is all about doing justice to farmer who grows barley and master blender who put all his efforts to turn that barley it liquid Gold. And I Always make sure justice will is done though haven falls: D

Awards:- Source https://theglenlivet.com/

Master 2009

The Glenlivet 15 YO the Scotch whisky Masters

Gold 2009

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Silver 2009

The Glenlivet 15 French Oak Reserve IWSC

So at end in my opinion drinking ritual is. drink finest whiskey by enjoying its fragrances eating lot of cheese and couple of prayers.

Drink responsibly.