The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

Score: 59

The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve is a curious creature, playful, fruit-forward, and unmistakably designed for easy sipping. Finished in rum casks, it leans into its tropical flair with ripe banana, red apple, and pear taking center stage. There’s a gentle syrupy sweetness that rounds out the palate, backed by a subtle spice that never oversteps. T rue to The Glenlivet’s house style, it’s drinkable and well-textured, light and silky, almost smooth to a fault. It’s a refreshing alternative to the classic 12 Year Old, especially for those seeking a livelier, more summery dram in a similar price bracket. And yet, its journey through the club’s tasting gauntlet was a tale of two extremes. It somehow clinched the top spot in its initial tasting, likely riding high on its novelty, accessibility, and sheer drinkability. In a lineup of heavier, more brooding malts, Caribbean Reserve was the cheerful outlier that charmed its way to victory. But when thrown into the Champion of Champions 2023, where nuance, depth, and complexity reign supreme, it was exposed. The same qualities that made it a crowd-pleaser, its simplicity, sweetness, and lack of age, became liabilities. It came dead last, a reminder that while it’s fun and refreshing, it’s not built for the big leagues. A summer fling, not a lifelong romance.