Glenlivet Single Cask Edition, 20 years, Bottled 14/11/2011, Cask Edition Helios, Cask Number 60521, 50.7% abv.

This is the bourbon cask version. Apparently named after the sun god, but supposedly references the altitude of the distillery.

Nose: very strong vanilla, background of cooked green vegetables, after awhile I get more pineapples, a little bit of limes, meat seasoning, background of BBQ sauce.

Palate: light bodied, initial palate is sweet, limes, manadarins, mid palate is sweet and spicey, vanilla, lavendar, develops a vegetative canvas to compare the vanilla against, back palate is a lot of vanilla, cocktail cherries.

Finish: moderate to long, pineapples, some vanilla, a slight sense of gasoline smoke.

Dry glass: wax, middle eastern dates, perfume.

This one starts off quite strong with a vanilla nose, then combines the vanilla with some vegetation, and ends with a slight salty-smokey taste. It's quite interesting, slightly complex, difficult to understand all the aromas and flavors I've experienced, and the time aspect makes me wonder if I missed out on anything. To be honest this is levels better than their standard product line, but levels below some of their vintage white, green, pink Gordon & MacPhail bottles.

Grade: B+

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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