Glenlivet Founders Reserve Single Speyside Malt Whisky 40%

In 1824, George Smith stood alone with his licence and his defiance of the Scottish farmers who refused to pay tax on their home-distilled whisky. Two centuries later, this bottle still carries his name forward as a tribute to the man who founded The Glenlivet.

Expert Description

Glenlivet Founders Reserve is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, bottled at 40% with no age statement.

The whisky launched in 2015 as a tribute to the distillery's founder and was intended to eventually take over from the popular Glenlivet 12 Year Old in the core range. Founders Reserve is matured in a combination of traditional American oak casks and new bourbon casks used only once, the first time The Glenlivet had used this cask type. The combination gives the whisky a creamy, sweet character with pronounced vanilla. On release, Founders Reserve won gold at the 2015 Scotch Whisky Masters, cementing its place in the distillery's range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus and a hint of orange open things up, carried by a gentle sweetness.

Palate

Orange peel, pears, peach and blossom meet vanilla in a classic fruity Glenlivet style.

Finish

Creamy and soft, with a lingering sweetness that rounds off the flavour nicely.

Specifications

Name: Founders Reserve
Distillery: The Glenlivet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and first fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
EAN: 5000299609347

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Floral · Sweet · Creamy

Did You Know?

Founders Reserve was the first Glenlivet expression ever matured in new, once-used bourbon casks, a cask choice the distillery had never tried before in nearly 200 years of history until 2015.

See our full range of The Glenlivet

Frequently Asked Questions about Glenlivet Founders Reserve

Why does Founders Reserve have no age statement?

Founders Reserve is a No Age Statement whisky, where The Glenlivet instead focuses on blending casks that together hit the house's intended flavour profile, independent of a fixed number of years in cask.

What does the name Founders Reserve mean?

The name honours George Smith, the distillery's founder, who in 1824 obtained the first official licence to distil in the Glenlivet valley.

Is this whisky worth the money?

Founders Reserve is a solid, well-balanced core range whisky with a unique cask composition and an internationally award-winning status from the Scotch Whisky Masters, making it a safe choice for beginners and experienced whisky drinkers alike.

Should Founders Reserve be enjoyed neat or on ice?

The whisky works well neat in a nosing glass, but its creamy, fruity style can also handle a single ice cube without losing its character.

Is Founders Reserve a good gift for someone who doesn't know much about whisky?

Yes. The light, fruity and approachable style makes it a safe choice if you're unsure of the recipient's taste, since it's rarely too intense or smoky.

What defines The Glenlivet's distillery style?

The Glenlivet is known for a light, floral and fruity character that has made it one of the best-selling single malt whiskies in the world. Founders Reserve shows exactly this style in its most accessible form.