The Glenlivet Extends Their Master Distiller’s Reserve Range!

The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Range

The Glenlivet Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, is proud to present the Masters Distiller’s Reserve range, a signature collection of three exceptional triple-cask matured single malt whiskies.
Available exclusively to international travellers from 1st July 2015, the collection elegantly showcases the unrivalled quality and character that has become part of the signature of The Glenlivet’s classic style – ‘the single malt that started it all’.

Already an existing globally successful whisky, Master Distiller’s Reserve, is the cornerstone of the range and it is joined in 2015 by two luxurious new expressions: Master Distiller’s Reserve Solera Vatted and The Master Distiller’s Reserve Small Batch to become the new permanent range.

Exploring a special journey into craft and cask, the Master Distiller’s Reserve range brings exceptional cask quality and a unique breadth and depth of flavour to the fore. Expert selection of the highest quality Traditional Oak, American Oak and Ex-Sherry Oak casks offers each expression ‘three times’ the character, for a discernibly rich and “three dimensional” quality.

Master Distiller’s Reserve – Traditional oak casks deliver the classic style of The Glenlivet of ripe fruit pear and gentle summer floral notes – while first fill American Oak provides depth, with creamy notes of coconut and soft fudge. Ex-Sherry oak is used to impart dried fruit flavours and spice aromas offering a deeper complexity and richness.

New Master Distiller’s Reserve Solera Vatted – To craft this exceptional liquid, the casks – Ex-Sherry, American Oak and Traditional Oak – are brought together in a Solera Vat. The Vat is never emptied, a process which creates a rich and intense whisky, developing greater complexity year on year. A high concentration of first fill American oak casks bring a creaminess and honeyed sweetness to this expression, which has a uniquely velvety character.

New Master Distiller’s Reserve Small Batch – Each unique batch of this exclusive expression, is created with individually selected casks, chosen from the collection of whiskies maturing in The Glenlivet warehouses. Every single cask is nosed prior to the final selection and the finest first fill ex-Sherry and American Oak casks are combined with Traditional Oak casks to create an exceptional malt, with subtle notes of fruit and delicate spiciness. It is then bottled and released in Small Batches, each with a unique batch number.

The Master Distiller’s Reserve range is a collection of exceptional single malt whiskies that marries thecraft of the cask and the craft of flavour whilst maintaining the distinct floral characteristics of ‘the single malt that started it all’.
A range of this nature can only be created with exceptional quality casks, industry leading expertise and a forward looking mind set; it is an honour that every bottle bears my name.
– Alan Winchester: The Glenlivet Master Distiller

Each expression retains the distinctive shape of The Glenlivet bottle and is presented in clear glass to reveal the alluring gold colouring, used to reinforce the quality credentials of the liquid. The new signifier for The Glenlivet, the iconic Packhorse Bridge which crosses the River Livet, features on the bottle ‘cartouche’ as a symbol of authenticity and heritage.

Furthering the premium mark through to the packaging, the range is presented in a luxury carton containing tasting notes and is completed with a bold symbol to signify the three types of wood and the multi-layered characters of the whisky.

Each path of The Master Distiller’s Reserve range bears the signature of Alan Winchester, the guarantor of The Glenlivet, carrying forward George Smith’s original vision with a personal invitation to embark on three exclusive journeys, now and into the future.

Master Distiller’s Reserve has proven to be a huge success at Global Travel Retail.
It has been a natural next step for us to extend this into a permanent travel retail exclusive range to further our credentials in the super premium whisky category.
International travellers are a specific group with a thirst for innovation and exclusivity and The Glenlivet is in prime position to deliver this.
– Nikki Burgess: The Glenlivet Brand Director

These two new additions to The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve range continue the great work begun by Alan Winchester with the original Master Distiller’s Reserve expression, which itself expanded upon and enhanced aspects of the unique The Glenlivet house style, through the use of three different cask types during maturation.

The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Small Batch Reserve is extremely quaffable, with a complex, characterful and engaging flavour profile, while the quintessential fruity characteristics of The Glenlivet are spiced up and given additional depth and dimensions in the Master Distiller’s Reserve Solera Vatted.
– Gavin D Smith: International whisky expert

Master Distiller’s Reserve Range Tasting Notes

The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve
Colour: Bright and lively gold
Nose: Full and bursting with ripe, fruity pear and soft
fudge aromas. Incredibly sweet and smooth
Palate: Fruity pear flavours with a spicy orange marmalade tang
Finish: Creamy and smooth with marzipan and fresh hazelnuts

The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Small Batch
Colour: Amber, with hints of copper
Nose: Subtle fruit notes of peaches in syrup, with a hint of ginger spiciness
Palate: Perfectly balanced, with warm, fruity, orange marmalade flavours, and subtle notes of vanilla and liquorice
Finish: Long, with hints of spiciness