Last night my buddy Sam and I were fortunate enough to attend a tasting of The Glenlivet hosted by Morton’s in Downtown Atlanta and Brand Ambassador Randy Adams, otherwise known as “The Glenlivet Guy”. This was the Atlanta stop of The Glenlivet’s tour of Morton’s restaurants across the county. (the full schedule can be found here)
They were pouring the first four bottles in The Glenlivet range:
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak
The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
Paired with each dram was a lovely appetizer including smoked salmon, beef, scallops and other tasty bits. In general I think the appetizers paired well with the different drams. My favorite combination was actually the first one. They paired a smoked salmon pinwheel with The Glenlivet 12 year old.
This was definitely one of the more informal tastings I’ve been to that were lead by a company representative. Randy is a very friendly, outgoing, and likeable guy. (as ambassadors should be) Sam and I chatted him a good bit and even got an invite to share a dram with him should we make it to Scotland one summer when he’s there with his wife’s family. Randy was informative without being overbearing and knowledgeable in all things Glenlivet and most things whisk(e)y. I look forward to seeing him at the Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza on Thursday.
So what about the whisky you ask? Well, The Glenlivet range is all very approachable. Going into the evening the 15 Year Old French Oak was my favorite and the Nadurra had always caught Sam’s eye. We both enjoyed everything poured and I still held fast to the 15 as a favorite and Sam said he’d probably be picking up a bottle of that too.
All in all it was a good event with a fair share of humorous moments. One gentleman snatched the 18 year off the bar and then secretly poured himself a very impressive measure of about three fingers before promptly filling the rest of the glass with ice cubes and sneaking off. I really hope that we start seeing more events like this in the Atlanta area (take note producers, distributors, and retailers!). If so, I know I’ll be there and hopefully so will you.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
