Glenlivet French Oak 15yo

The French Oak Reserve is generally considered one of the better values in the Glenlivet stable. Jim Murray certainly thinks so, giving this mid-range malt a strong recommendation - and he's not the only one. The distillery was one of Scotland's first to employ French oak for ageing whisky. Specifically, Limousin oak, sourced from France’s Dordogne region, the only French forest that is predominantly Quercus Robur. The toughness and coarse (open) grain of the species is a result of nutrient-deficient soils, restricting vertical growth to shorter, wider trunks. It places Limousin oak at one end of the scale in terms of looseness of grain. A consequence is that the release of flavours is aggressive and more oak tannin is extracted than from other oak types, hence, it's used almost exclusively for the maturation of spirits like Cognac rather than wine. In the case of Glenlivet, the whisky is selectively finished in Limousin oak so as not to overpower the fruitiness of the distillate. The wood's low density allows the spirit to cycle deeply in and out of the staves, adding a distinctive and pleasing spiciness that's different to the vanilla-heavy American oak. Bottled at 40%, Glenlivet's French Oak Reserve is not a heavy malt, but at the right price, you do get a terrific everyday drinker.