Tasting The Glenlivet Code & Cracking The Ultimate Whisky Mystery!

The Glenlivet challenges consumers to crack the ultimate whisky mystery

The Glenlivet launches their latest limited edition ‘The Code’ to push the boundaries of flavour exploration & challenges consumers to crack the ultimate whisky mystery!

I was lucky enough to be invited to #TheGlenlivetCode Hackathon on Wednesday (at The Black Bar in London) to sample Glenlivet’s latest Limited Edition offering – The Code.

It was also a great pleasure to meet and chat to the great Alan Winchester, The Glenlivet’s Master Distiller. Not that he gave away too much about the tasting notes for their latest dram!

The Glenlivet Code is a mysterious Single Malt Scotch whisky which is being released without cask information or tasting notes to take whisky connoisseurs on a journey of discovery whilst also putting their Single Malt knowledge to the test. Inspired by the iconic British Code breakers, the limited edition is a labyrinth of flavours that will test the senses of even the most discerning whisky drinker.

Maintaining the exceptional quality that The Glenlivet is famed for, The Glenlivet Code presents the brand’s smooth and fruity house style with some additional twists for a moment of definitive pleasure. Its release is supported by an interactive digital experience, inspired by the famous British codebreakers and aims to test consumers’ knowledge and understanding of Single Malt whisky.

The Glenlivet Code digital experience invites whisky connoisseurs to scan a code on the back of their bottle carton using the Shazam app to enter a virtual underground room. Here, they will be greeted by a hologram of The Glenlivet’s Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, who will challenge them to decode the taste of the liquid by selecting four aromas for the nose and four flavours for the palate from thousands of possible combinations.

After decoding the flavours of the new whisky, participants will be given a score which they can post on social media to see how they rank against their peers. The official tasting notes won’t be revealed until the end of the year to give Single Malt enthusiasts the time to discover and enjoy the liquid themselves.

With The Glenlivet Code, we had a unique opportunity to create a whisky that has never been crafted before, using new casks and techniques to push the boundaries of what people expect from The Glenlivet.

This year’s limited edition is a labyrinth of flavours that will test the senses of even the most discerning whisky drinker and we’re excited to invite consumers worldwide to take on the ultimate challenge by unlocking its mystery taste. The interactive experience will allow whisky enthusiasts at all levels to build their knowledge of the category while also developing a deeper understanding of The Glenlivet.
– Alan Winchester: The Glenlivet’s Master Distiller

The Glenlivet Code will launch globally from March 2018 across 28 markets with an RRP of $120 USD (probably around £100). Consumers can log onto www.theglenlivet.com to find out more about the digital experience and share their thoughts on social media using #TheGlenlivetCode.

Tasting The Glenlivet Code at The Black Bar, London

Tasting Notes – The Glenlivet Code (48%)

We were split into three teams of three and had to answer eight questions. The first team to get them correct had the honour of unveiling the Dram and getting to work nosing and sampling!

Our team, unfortunately, did not grab that honour but we did get through the ridiculously (!) hard questions to get our hands on our copy of ‘The Code’ and get sampling.

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Colour: Who knows?! The bottle is a deep black, the tasting glass is a deep black! (Actually, it’s a warm, sherried colour.)

Nose: Toffee, lovely red apple, vanilla with a hint of smoke.

Palate: Tasty cherry and pineapple, plump raisin and mild liquorice.

Finish: Medium finish which is long and sweet with no hint of bitterness.

Overall: A very enjoyable dram but then I’m a big fan of The Glenlivet anyway.

Trying out the Tasting Wheel was a lot of fun and I guess if you’re really competitive you can keep trying again and again until you get your perfect score!

My tasting results: Could be worse!

Many thanks to all involved for the invite and for a fantastic evening and of course, the team at www.theglenlivet.com for the sample and without whom!

Glenlivet is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-