KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Scotch whisky aficionados, this might tickle your fancy.
The Glenlivet, known for its floral and fruity whiskies, has launched its 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition (Cask 906283), a single malt that will only be available in Malaysia.
It is extremely rare, with only 174 bottles available.
The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition (Cask 906283), is drawn from a single first fill American oak barrel, bottled after 15 years of maturation.
The end product is seriously potent at 59.7 per cent cask strength.
Unlike most single malt whiskies, The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition is non-chill filtered — it is as natural as they come, and the closest thing to drinking straight from the cask.
Non-chill filtered whiskies tend to turn hazy when mixed with ice or water so don’t be alarmed if this happens.
Whisky lovers will appreciate experiencing The Glenlivet in its purest form, giving them a taste of the Speyside region through its unique flavour profile and a long, smooth finish.
On the nose, notes of pear drop sweets and honeydew melon strike you first, followed by orchard fruit with hints of vanilla and ginger on the palate.
Asked why Malaysia was chosen as the only market for The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition to be available in, Pernod Ricard, Malaysia brand manager Benedict Yong said there is a demand for rare whiskies here.
“We’ve launched a lot of limited edition whiskies in Malaysia such as The Glenlivet Alpha and The Glenlivet Cipher, to the annual Winchester collection which we auctioned off for a six-digit price.
“Malaysia consumers are becoming more sophisticated with their palates and they have a precise palate for The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old which is why we thought it would be good to show them what a single cask of 15-year-old is like,” said Yong at a closed tasting for members of the press and The Guardians of The Glenlivet on Wednesday.
The Glenlivet Guardians from the Malaysian Chapter will get first dibs on exclusive purchase privileges of the first 80 bottles out of the 174 bottles.
The Glenlivet Guardians Malaysia brand ambassador Lionel Lau recommends drinking the 15-year-old Single Cask Edition with a splash of water (one-third of the amount of whisky in your glass) to fully enjoy the whisky.
“A major no-no is to mix it with soda or any other kind of mixers because you really want to taste the whisky in its purest form.
“Don’t get me wrong, you can drink whisky any way you like but just not for something as pure as this,” he explained.
If you are serving The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition with food, Lau said it is best to avoid “anything that is overly spiced” or strong flavours like lemongrass because it “tends to kill the taste of the whisky” but otherwise, anything goes.
The Glenlivet 15-Year-Old Single Cask Edition (Cask 906283) is available through selected trade partners from May 1 onwards and will retail at RM1,328 including GST. Visit https://thecask.my/ to purchase.
