The Glenlivet Captain's Reserve - New single malt with Cognac finish
Aged for at least six months in ex-Cognac casks, this new expression will initially be available locally, but soon also globally
Glenlivet Captain's Reserve is the name of The Glenlivet's new single malt, which can be purchased now in the distillery shop and will also be available in the Global Travel Retail market during May. This bottling of the distillery near Ballindalloch is named after Captain William Smith Grant, a great grandson of the founder George Smith. It will be part of the standard range sitting above The Glenlivet 15 Year Old.
Connection to France
As a Scottish soldier, Captain Smith Grant fought in World War I. He survived the Battle of Arras (France) - one of the bloodiest of the First World War - and later became one of the great characters in the Scottish whisky industry. The connection with France led to the idea of finishing the whisky in Cognac casks, as Master Distiller Alan Winchester stated during this year's Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.
Aged in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks and aged for at least half a year in casks which previously held French cognac, The Glenlivet Captain's Reserve was bottled without age statement at 40% abv. According to the distillery, this is the first "major single malt finished in Cognac casks" and aims to be a standard bottling with a Cognac finish rather than a limited one.
Global availability from summer
The 70cl bottle of this new expression, to which flavours of mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate dipped raisins are attributed, is offered for 50 GBP in the distillery shop. The good news for all those who cannot or do not want to travel to Scotland immediately is that later this summer the Captain's Reserve will also be released in global whisky markets - and we will therefore hopefully be able to offer it in our online shop as well. Meanwhile, The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, matured in fresh Limousin oak casks from the Dordogne in France, will shorten your waiting time. It is precisely this type of oak that is often used to mature Cognac.
Photo: Pernod Ricard Deutschland