Glenlivet 25 Year Old The Sample Room Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

The "Sample Room" is Glenlivet's innovation centre for testing novel cask combinations. It's also the name of a new series that replaces the previous 'Archive' label. Launched in 2022 and featuring whiskies designed to be deeper, richer and more experimental than the standard core range, the creative influence of barrel expert, Kevin Balmforth shifts the focus to innovative, cask-driven profiles with high-end luxury, multi-cask maturations.

Other reviews... Beyond the complicated maturation of first and second-fill barrels, hogsheads, and butts, this whisky has been finished in PX and Tronçais oak cognac casks. Inky plums, aromatic roasted spice, stewed fruits, citrus peel, and cedarwood mark out a luxurious medley of aromas. Spectacularly jammy with thick sherry notes, damsons, cinnamon, dried fruit, ginger spices, apricot, and toasted oak with each sip. Who's got the cigars? 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com

A finish in first-fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry and ex-Cognac casks made from oak from the Tronçais forest, top-notch wood! Colour: deep gold. Nose: it’s really all on patchouli and dried figs at first, then moves swiftly into plum tart dusted with cinnamon, followed by chestnut honey subtly laced with black pepper. I must say I’m rather fond of this nose, PX and Cognac or not. A beautifully crafted aromatic profile, very classy indeed. Mouth: same impression, this is very well put together, elegant and reasonably full of flavours of cake, honey and soft spices, with cinnamon leading the pack. Lovely touches of marzipan-stuffed dates and then vine peach jam, which may well be the Cognac speaking. Finish: not hugely long at this strength, but still balanced, drifting more towards chocolate filled with raisins. Comments: I really like this very elegant, gentle and flavourful Glenlivet, certainly more so than the old 25 ‘XXV’ from a good ten years ago. 88 points - whiskyfun.com