Page 36 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2023

Cask a Spell
Using three distinct types of barrels, The Glenlivet spirits up fresh flavours in its 21 Year Old single malt
THERE’S MAGIC BEING WORKED IN THE GLENLIVET SAMPLE ROOM.
Located just outside of Glasgow in the town of Dumbarton, the whisky maker’s creative epicentre is a seriously special place, where the distillery’s dedicated team conjures up flavours of the unexpected — and uses the power of complex, unsung casks to do so. The Glenlivet 21 Year Old is one of the latest whiskies whipped up by the Speyside pioneers: a single malt scotch finished in a trio of distinct barrels. And each of the wines or spirits previously held in these warming, woody casks — Oloroso Sherry, Troncais Cognac and Vintage Colheita Port — kindles to life new, exciting notes in the well-flavoured whisky.
First up are aromas of silky caramelized pears and the syrupy smack of juicy
sultanas. Then, on the palate, a dram-enhancing dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon. Dried apricots come next, giving way to chocolate-coated ginger, before things ease to an end with whispers of soft, smoky peat. Each of these enchanting flavours is influenced by one of those three scrupulously sourced cask types, but such innovation isn’t new to the brand. The Glenlivet has never shied away from radical methods or measures, and this cornerstone of The Sample Room collection continues in that trailblazing tradition. Even the suggested food pairing for the 21 Year Old — brie with green olive tapenade and toasted almonds — seems almost absurdly specific at first, but like the meticulous, multi-barrel process used to create the whisky itself, there’s some well-informed wisdom behind the decision — and it works like a charm.
36 BFM / FW23 PORTFOLIO
CASK A SPELL: TEXT BY JONATHAN WELLS