Colour: Amber.
Nose: Sweet with sherry aromas, dark toffee and raisins on the nose. Then fruit notes of orange, cherry and black currant develop, accompanied by plum compote, milk chocolate and a touch of pipe tobacco.
Palate: Wonderfully sweet and slightly warming on the palate with raisins, dark cherries and creamy cappuccino. Becomes more and more chocolaty with mocha, dark chocolate, coffee crema and a slightly spicy tobacco note.
Finish: The finish is long, warming and sticky sweet, becoming drier towards the end with notes of dark chocolate, tobacco, oak spice and a hint of nutmeg.
With water: After the addition of a few drops of water slightly spicy on the nose with oak and nutmeg, while retaining the fruity aromas of orange, cherry and plum. Sticky sweet on the palate with orange, only a little dark chocolate and dry oak spice towards the finish. The finish is slightly shorter with creamy cappuccino and milk chocolate, followed by slightly dry oak.
Comments: A sherry cask aged Glenlivet, which not only pleases by its sweet fruit aromas, but also by the wonderful aromatic diversity of chocolate and coffee. With 46% abv optimally bottled. Cappuccino with a piece of Black Forest cherry cake. Isn't that wonderful?

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Dark mahogany.
Nose: Massive and rich aromas of dried, candied fruits - plums, dark cherries and figs. Heavy load of sherry, nicely mixed with orange zests and Demerara sugar. Rum soaked raisins and dates arrive with lingering notes of Christmas cake and walnuts. Subtle cinnamon and a bit of oak with a pleasant touch of tobacco leaves and cigar box in the back. A constant change of flavours from fruity, sweet to bitter/herbal and back again. The alcohol is very well integrated. A rich and complex nose!
Palate: Wow - this is strong, rich and intense on the palate! A massive load of sherry, mixed with concentrated dried dark fruits, rum notes, and Demerara sugar. This is complemented by a warming spiciness of toasted oak, cinnamon, and ginger. Once this warmth fades, sweet and creamy notes of dates and oranges arrive, pleasantly lingering with dark chocolate, dry oak, cedar wood and walnuts towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is endlessly long, voluminous, chocolaty-sweet with fine nutty aromas and slightly bitter tobacco notes.
With water: Lively and fresh on the nose when a splash of water is added. Still lots of sherry with dark fruits and some more spicy and herbal flavours in the back. Quite lively on the palate. Vibrant with prickling oak, fruit and warming spices - mainly ginger and pepper. Fruity and bitter sweet towards the finish. The finish lasts very long with caramel, milk chocolate and drying notes of oak, tobacco leaves and walnuts.
Comments: Wow, this is a brilliant dram - a real beast! A sherry beast with an explosion of aromas. Lots of fruit, sweetness and a massive load of warming spices, which is all in constant change. For only 10 years very well balanced, mature and pleasantly drinkable. The high alcohol content of 66.6% is noticeable but not pungent and doesn't disturb at all. On the contrary, the alcohol throws the abundance of aromas in the nose and throat, so that you can still feel the beast on your tongue the next morning. An outstanding single malt - at least to me!

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Sweet and fruity start with delicate but somewhat restrained sherry flavours, oranges, dates and gentle caramel. Subtle notes of milk chocolate nicely linger with cinnamon, a hint of pepper and tender spiced oak in the back. Surprisingly, the alcohol is very present.
Palate: Unexpectedly strong on the palate. A lovely sweetness of sherry, oranges, vanilla and caramel, complemented by an alcoholic bite and a significant spiciness of pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and oak. Very warming indeed with lingering milk chocolate towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long and warm with a creamy sweetness of dried fruit and caramel. Mouth-coating and spicy with pepper and dry oak on the tail.
With water: Water tames a bit of the filigree fruitiness and sweetness on the nose bringing more spicy flavours of pepper and oak to the fore. Less sweet and fruity on the palate, too, with spicy and dry notes of oak, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg dominating here. The finish is medium long, warm, still spicy and very dry with oak and tannins.
Comments: Although having been matured for over 9 years in a first-fill sherry butt, this Speyside dram is by no means a sherry monster. The cask has given a filigree fruitiness and lovely sweetness to the destillate. On the other hand, it accounted for a slightly overbalance of spices and oaky flavours. Quite drinkable neat despite the alcoholic bite. Adding water, however, brings lots of dryness to the fore.

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Sweet and fruity start with delicate sherry flavours, oranges, dates and gentle marzipan. Subtle notes of dark chocolate nicely linger with spiced oak, a hint of pepper and orange zest in the back.
Palate: Sweet and creamy on the palate with red berries, apricots, oranges, and toffee, complemented by a warming spiciness of cinnamon, oak, and a whiff of black pepper. Lingering notes of dark chocolate with gentle caramel emerge, perfectly mixed with a delicate fruitiness and delicious sherry towards the finish. Very tasty!
Finish: The finish is long, sweet and creamy with caramel, sherry, fruity touch of berries and dark chocolate. This is accompanied by warm notes of spiced oak, cinnamon and allspice.
With water: More lively and vibrant on the nose with a few drops of water. More apricots and vanilla with delicate notes of toffee and spiced oak. Bold and intense on the palate with ripe and luscious oranges, complemented by prickling oak and dark chocolate. The finish is a bit shorter, but stays sweet and creamy with berries, oak, cinnamon and slightly dry notes of dark chocolate again.
Comments: The colour is not as dark as one would expect from 16 years of maturation in a first-fill sherry cask, but this Glenlivet is a well-matured, rich and round whisky with a good balance of sweet, fruity and spicy flavours. Lots of sherry-derived flavours but not overly complex. A pleasant and enjoyable dram. Dangerously quaffable!

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for sample and photograph!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: A fruity and sweet start on the nose with brambles, black currant and roasted apples. A bit cognac-like aroma's coming through with Demerara sugar and X-mas like spice, subtle cinnamon, a whiff of cardamom, along with a slight touch of tobacco leaves. With time lingering sherry flavours emerge. Smooth, gentle and delicate.
Palate: The sweetness continues on the palate with significantly more sherry flavours, dark cherries, dates, and raisins. This is complemented by lingering spice, cinnamon, white pepper and gentle oak. Dark honey emerges sticking deliciously on the tongue. Smooth but intense and very pleasant.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and sweet with an increased spiciness, leading to a dry end with gentle tobacco leaves, crisp oak, herbs and a touch of old leather.
With water: Vibrant and prickling on the nose with fresh tobacco leaves, sweet fruit and lingering herbs. Sweet with crisp spice on the palate, and a long and sticky sweet finish with more oak spice.
Comments: A very satisfying Glenlivet. It needs definitely a significant amount of time to develop its full aroma and a few drops of water release additional delicate flavours. Perfectly balanced with fruity sweetness and savoury autumnal/winterly spices. Very tasty - an appropriate choice for this time of year!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Sherry jumps out of the glass along with lots of fruit, cherries and red grapes, brown sugar, and subtle toffee. A whiff of vanilla with hazelnuts are coming through before delicate oak takes the upper hand.
Palate: Starts sweet with cherries, raisins and sherry. Very creamy and mouthfilling. Lateron there is spice coming through with cinnamon and pepper, leathery notes, along with intense but smooth oaky tannins. Delicate.
Finish: Very long and sweet with a lingering nuttiness. Gets drier in the end with oaky spice, pepper and gentle tannins.
With water: Stays sweet with significant more spice and hazelnuts. Warm and prickling oaky flavours.
Comments: A delicate and round whisky with an excellent balance between sweetness and oaky spiciness. Less complex but very quaffable. An enjoyable dram!