I taste The Glenlivet 40 Year Old whisky, an intense fusion of fruits, spice and syrupy crumpets

Celebrated Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery The Glenlivet has launched its oldest permanent expression yet. The Glenlivet 40 Year Old has been meticulously matured in custom casks from Jerez, and bottled at 46.9% ABV. 

Under the watchful eye of Cask Master Kevin Balmforth, this new permanent expression has been artfully seasoned with a bespoke blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherries, giving this premium Single Malt a flavour profile rich in stone fruits, and warming spice.

“We put a huge amount of work and effort into finishing our whiskies,” explains Balmforth at an exclusive tasting of the new (old) liquid. ”It’s not easy, it’s difficult, it’s complicated…” 

This new permanent expression has been artfully seasoned with a bespoke blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherries…

Balmforth says that a sherry finish was deemed the ideal way to elevate this eagerly awaited 40 Year Old.  “It had to be sherry,” he says. “Whisky at this age is so rich by itself, it’s so powerful, you need something to move the dial. You need something quite rich in itself to actually make any sort of impact, to elevate what you’ve already got. It’s the perfect match for this amazing whisky.”

The premium single malt arrives in an elongated bottle, which echoes The Glenlivet’s original, 200 year old glass silhouette, ensconced within an elegant copper-coloured presentation container, inspired by the copper stills used at the distillery.

The Luxe Review was invited to a rare tasting of this outstanding liquid, at The Whisky Shop, in London. I also had the opportunity to sample comparative drams of The Glenlivet 21 and 25 year old.

By way of contrast, The Glenlivet 21 features a triple cask finish with Oloroso sherry, cognac, and port casks, adding complexity without compromising The Glenlivet style, while The Glenlivet 25 is crafted in PX and cognac casks, requiring 18 months to two years for flavour development. 

The Glenlivet 40 Year Old tasting notes 

With a dark reddish hue, a consequence of its long maturation, The Glenlivet 40’s intense flavor profile owes much to those bespoke PX and Oloroso sherry casks.

On the nose, there’s an abundance of fruity aromas, jam and dark cherries, all wrapped in old leather.  

On the palate, I enjoyed layers of plum, fig, stone fruits, spices, and the warm aftertaste of syrupy crumpets. It’s delightfully intense. There’s some signature tropical notes in there too, bananas and mango, somehow amplified in the mix. The finish is exceptionally long; it exits with peppery spice.

I’m told the second maturation took three years. “After one year, it almost made no difference at all. It took three years before the sherry started having an impact on this amazing liquid,” reveals Balmforth. 

The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Tasting Notes

Before the 40 YO, I sampled its younger stablemate, bottled at 43% ABV, and it’s a real crowd pleaser, offering baskets of fruit on the nose. The Glenlivet style has been enhanced by the ambition of its triple cask maturation, which guarantees layers of flavour, including tropical fruits, bananas, and pears.

On the palate, there’s a burst of jammy sweetness, layered with cinnamon from the Port influence, plus ginger and spices. A drop of water rewards with bonus fruit cake and sweet cherries.

On the contentious issue of adding water to whiskey, Kevin confides: “I do generally drink with a splash of water. That’s generally my drinking style. It opens up flavours. It doesn’t doesn’t harm the whisky at all. A lot of people have a belief that they shouldn’t add any water, that it’s going to harm the whisky. It doesn’t at all. Actually, it can make it much more critical, easier to discern.” 

The Glenlivet 25 Year Old Tasting Notes

A double cask finish whisky, The Glenlivet 25 is finished in PX sherry and cognac casks. The sherry brings a rich, spicy flavour profile to the liquid. On the nose, it’s far more subdued than the 21 YO, as if it’s being coy with its flavours, teasing with a hint of strawberry. But there’s plenty to enjoy on the palate, including apricot jam and clove spice.

Bottled at 43% ABV, the 25 YO relinquishes more flavour as it sits in the glass: raisins, dried fruits and cinnamon – and the mouthfeel is sublime, unctuous and creamy, before it dries out on the finish.

To celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2024, The Glenlivet launched The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 Year Old, limited to just 100 bottles worldwide.

The Glenlivet 40 Year Old, which will be bottled at cask strength annually, is available from The Whisky Shop, priced at £4,600.  The Glenlivet 21 sells for £240, and is available from Master of Malt. The Glenlivet 25 retails for £399.