The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve

With its illicit distilling history going back to the 1800s, The Glenlivet was one of the first distilleries to take out a licence in 1824, after (as the story goes) King George IV specifically requested George Smith’s whisky on his visit to Scotland in 1822  – despite the fact it was illegal. It was (and still is) known for its pineapple flavour, though in the 1800s it was particularly distinctive as whisky styles were generally heavy and rich at the time.

The Glenlivet claims to be one of the first to use French oak in whisky production, and this 15 Year Old is matured in Limousin oak from France’s Dordogne region (where it’s often used to mature Cognac). The oak’s low density allows the whisky to absorb deep into the wood, imparting a rich spiciness to the fruity whisky.