New Release: Glenlivet 18 Year Old Official Hand-Filled Batch Number 3 48.9%

I slightly regretted not buying it. Glenlivet GLENLIVET 18yo OB Hand-Filled Batch No.3 48.9% Bottled in 2016, Bourbon Cask The aroma is elegant and strongly fruity with notes of pear and orange juice, vanilla, pronounced oak, nuts, and a hint of barley from the depths. On the palate, it starts with a gentle spiciness and continues with the same elegant, robust fruity character as the aroma, featuring pear cake, orange oil, a subtle pineapple sweetness, oak, honey-like richness, and citrusy acidity. There's also a slight woody bitterness from the barley, but the finish is not unpleasant. [Good/Very Good] This is a hand-filled 18-year-old bottling from the Glenlivet Distillery, following the previous Sherry cask 24-year-old release. It was available when I visited. The aroma is a refined, vibrant one typical of good bourbon casks, with a diverse and strong fruity character that is immediately noticeable. The barley notes are well-balanced, and the oak presence is slightly stronger. On the palate, it maintains the same elegant, diverse fruity profile as the aroma. I clearly sensed nuances reminiscent of orange oil, which is a characteristic I often associate with good bourbon casks. While distinct from estery pear notes, there's also a suggestion of pear cake. The rich sweetness and savory barley character were both impressive. Actually, I mentioned this bottle in my travel journal. During the tasting, I detected a very good fruity character alongside a noticeable woody bitterness. Compared to the Sherry cask, this bottle felt like great value for money, which is why I decided not to purchase it. Revisiting it in Japan, there's indeed a woody quality, but it's not overly bothersome. The charm of the strong fruity character clearly outweighs any concerns. While I don't regret not buying it due to additional costs for packaging and transportation, I can't help but feel a bit regretful about missing out on this good bottle. #Glenlivet (GLENLIVET)