The Spectra experience feels tailor-made for a pandemic. Even if you are totally alone, it makes for a convincing replica of drinking with a strange, somewhat demanding friend. The male voice actor chosen to narrate the “multimedia experience” has the mildest touch of brogue and otherworldly kind of serenity, kind of like a Scottish Brian Eno. I liked him immediately, complying happily with his directions to use headphones for the best experience, and hoping that my decision to split a set of airpods with my husband wouldn’t ruin whatever Brian had in store. We poured our whiskies, huddled around the iPhone like moths to a cold, cold flame, and tapped the button for Spectra No. 1. This year’s release is called Glenlivet Spectra and rather than being one whisky, it’s three, showing the range of flavour you can get from a single distillery – the spectrum of flavour, if you will. Description: After the Scotch Whisky Association rightly relaxed some of the rules around what is allowed in maturation, we’re now seeing whiskies involving tequila casks. This one is the second that I know of, following a low-key release from Diageo for the Mexican market. Through the gamified experience, whisky drinkers will be given cryptic hints and challenged to put their tasting abilities to the test as they seek to determine what flavour profiles make each bottle unique. At the end of each tasting, users are given a personalised scorecard showing how close they are to decoding each of the three mysterious single malts.

Palate: Soft, rounded and focused on charred wood. Roasted bananas on a beach barbecue with salty air whipping around. Pears and creosote appear, accompanied by lemon, grapefruit and a good sprinkling of salt.

The Glenlivet Spectra

You are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account. Palate: Light, delicate and creamy: apples, pears and green leaves. The floral notes from the nose build, along with more biscuits and a touch of lemon shortbread. Overall: There is no reason for the Scotch Whisky Association to worry if tequila cask matured whisky is going to taste like this. 7 First up at the big reveal was The Glenlivet’s UK ambassador David Robinson, who explained that bottle no.1 is a 12-year-old double cask matured whisky. This expression has been formulated to have two cask types combine in perfect harmony to really complement The Glenlivet’s classic style.

The full tasting notes and cask information will be revealed later this year, which will enable drinkers to fully uncover the expertly crafted tasting notes contained within The Glenlivet Spectra. Glenlivet made a different style of whisky to that which was current in the region, producing a lighter fruitier new make, something that has continued to this day. The whisky was such a success that he built another distillery in 1850 at Delnabo which never really functioned properly due to problems with the water supply. There were further problems when the original distillery burned down in 1858, something of a perennial problem in the whisky business. In 1859, he opened a new distillery near Ballindalloch where it remains to this day. Taste: Ventures more into liquorice, twizzlers, and caramel, rather than fruit here. Nice little tamarind bitterness on the finish too.

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Bottle no.2 was unveiled by Minenhle Radebe, the distillery’s ambassador in South Africa, which has been made from The Glenlivet’s 12-year-old ex-peat. It means that a European and American Oak cask has been used to mature it, but it has been finished in an American oak cask that has peated notes. Each bottle in the trio reinterprets The Glenlivet’s signature smooth and fruity style, and gives you the chance to engage with their interactive tasting experience. Scan the QR code on the box to access selected flavor profiles and put your palate to the test, comparing your tasting ability to that of the experts. Given the mysterious nature of The Glenlivet Spectra, we aimed to ensure each flavour was distinct and recognisable. I hope whisky lovers enjoy exploring the wide spectrum of flavours within The Glenlivet Spectra, as much as we enjoyed crafting them.”

Finish: A burst of mint and menthol is washed away by cream and apple sauce. Hints of charcoal and char build, along with mint.We may sell, license, transfer, assign or in any other way dispose of the Service (including Members) to any third party without any notification to you, e.g. (but without limitation) in connection with any reorganization, restructuring, merger or sale, or other transfer of assets.