The Glenlivet Cipher Single Malt Scotch

We’ve looked at our fair share of The Glenlivet Scotch and you can read those tasting notes here, here, here and here. Last week we were generously invited to a tasting of the newly anticipated The Glenlivet Cipher. Luckily for us we were amongst the first people to sample this Scotch, anywhere! The Glenlivet Cipher, is a, limited edition, non-age statement whisky that only reveals its name and nothing else, no cask finish info, no tasting notes and its matte black bottle doesn’t even reveal its colour. It is a smart move from The Glenlivet, to get the consumers to fully engage with the spirit and embrace the whisky and all of its flavours, without any preconception, leaving the consumer to form their own ideas of what they’re tasting. It is a fully interactive experience and once you’ve had a good taste of the Cipher, you can visit the microsite here and try to decode what you’ve experienced.

On the nose: you’ll be welcomed by sweet notes of honeycomb, mixed berries, vanilla and a lovely waft of candy. This is closely followed by spices, cinnamon and caramelised apples. After a few swirls, notes of banana, dark chocolate and flavours of a nutty nature start to emerge. Rounding off the nose are intense woody notes, aniseed and a hint of lemon zest. On the palate: those initial sweet notes of honeycomb and mixed berries are ever-present, coupled with vanilla notes. Sweet candy notes start to filter through, alongside notes of raisins, pears, raspberries and toffee. More fruity notes of apricots and peaches start to appear, balanced out with cinnamon, nutmeg and peppery notes. The palate has a lovely oily, yet creamy texture, which is nicely rounded off by a whisper of peat The finish: is medium to long, creamy and peppery, with lingering nuttiness and burnt oranges.

The verdict: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this new limited edition Glenlivet Cipher and it is safe to say I was massively impressed. The Glenlivet  Cipher has achieved what it set out to accomplish, its mysterious packing truly does heighten your senses and immerses you in its nose and palate. A very well-balanced drop that was truly delectable. With an ABV of 48% , it’s definitely a whisky that doesn’t really need any water but if you want to unlock the plethora of notes available, then only add a few drops. Just allowing it to breathe for around 10 minutes really did make a difference without adding any water.