Glenlivet Cipher (2016 Release) 70cl

A limited edition Single Malt Whisky from The Glenlivet's Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, The Glenlivet Cipher is a release like no other. A black bottle, no cask information, no tasting notes and no age statement, this Speysider really is a mystery. Decode the nose and palate and share your own tasting notes with on The Glenlivet website to find out what other whisky aficionados could decipher. The official tasting notes will then be revealed exclusively on the Cipher whisky page when you'll learn whether you have the skills to be a master distiller.

Back in 2013 The Glenlivet released a whisky called Alpha with no tasting notes, no cask details and an opaque black bottle. 'Twas quite good fun as everybody tried to guess the production technique used, before the eventual reveal (on that occasion they'd used casks conditioned with Scotch as opposed to bourbon or Sherry, unique for The Glenlivet).

Now it seems we're being treated to a new mystery, a cipher, in fact! Master Distiller Alan Winchester once again invites us to decipher the secrets of a unique single malt...

The first distillery to take out a licence after the Excise Act of 1823, the distillery was a favourite of King George IV who demanded nothing but Glenlivet during a visit to Edinburgh in 1821 - three years before it was legal! Glenlivet has given its name to the 'longest valley in Scotland', so called after several distilleries laid claim to the Glenlivet suffix to cash in on the distillery's sterling reputation. But only one can call itself The Glenlivet.

It took several generations of the founding Smith family to form the distillery into the huge brand it was to become with Captain Bill Smith Grant taking over the reins after returning from fighting in the First World War. When prohibition was repealed in the USA in 1933, Bill Smith Grant was able to capitalise on the great reputation they had built in the States in earlier years. Glenlivet remains hugely popular both across the pond and at home to this day.

In 2019, Glenlivet rebranded with a new look across its core range to reflect the history of the distillery but also to show their contemporary approach to attracting a new generation of whisky drinkers.

The Cipher was released in a similarly secretive way to the excellent Alpha, with very little information accompanying it. All that was revealed was the fact it is non chill filtered and that it uses a cask makeup never before used by the speyside distillery. Drinkers are invited to share their own tasting notes at cipher.theglenlivet.com and mark themselves against Glenlivet's master distiller, Alan Winchester. Why not have a go yourself?

48% ABV
70cl