The whisky was launched in June at Altitude Lounge, Banyan Tree Hotel in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: The Glenlivet Malaysia)
The rare Glenlivet 18 Year Old Single Cask Edition, available exclusively in Malaysia, was recently launched, to the delight of whisky enthusiasts. With only 276 bottles made, this single malt is bottled at cask strength and is a strong 60.5% ABV. Each bottle is numbered and comes in a handcrafted wooden box. The non-chill filtered Scotch whisky is drawn from an individual second-fill hogshead cask called Cask 8032. As no two casks are ever the same, this tasting session felt quite special.
At Banyan Tree Hotel’s Altitude Lounge, guests, media and Glenlivet’s guardians sipped the house’s Founder’s Reserve while awaiting the reveal of this rare spirit. We were served two glasses — a lowball tumbler with the much-awaited Single Cask Edition and an empty Neat glass. The unusual cup was flown in from the US specifically for this tasting session.
Guests were instructed to first taste the whisky in the rock glass. Initially, you get a strong hit of alcohol fumes due to the dram’s high ABV. The liquor is fruity with a forward flavour of citrus. Pouring the drink into the Neat glass, you get to experience the spirit on a different level. The Neat glass is shaped to allow ethanol and alcohol vapours to escape from the side of the glass, enabling you to savour the aromas — floral, fruity and a hint of lavender honey. The taste on the palate was also distinct, with a buttery mouthfeel and notes of flaked almonds. Although a fierce whisky, it has a somewhat soft and sweet finish.
This dram is perhaps best served neat to allow the whisky’s pure taste to envelop your senses. A few drops of water will dilute its floral notes. Guests were also treated to some T’lur caviar — the first Malaysian-produced caviar — which made a great accompaniment to the Single Cask Edition. We ended our evening with delectable canapés and more drams of Glenlivet’s core range of whiskies.
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Single Cask Edition is priced at RM1,988 per bottle. Buy here.
This article first appeared on Oct 21, 2019 in The Edge Malaysia.
