The Founder's Reserve with Brand Ambassador, Ian Logan
by Darinee Durai
@ 29 Jan 2018
DD: What sort of person was George Smith and how is his personality embodied in the Founder’s Reserve?
IL: George Smith was a great man as he was very multifaceted. He was a farmer, a builder, an architect, a designer and a distiller. Much like him, his family also fought many battles over the years. Now, we are just the custodians of The Glenlivet. It is our job to maintain the same attitude, approach and drive he had when making whiskies. We want to be able to preserve history as much as possible, and that is why we chose to replicate his signature fruity, sweet whisky from Speyside. Founder’s Reserve is an open-minded whisky—you can drink it straight, on the rocks or in a cocktail. It’s very versatile, without a particular niche. This very much echoes Smith’s character. He was very open-minded and a visionary: he had the foresight to become the first legal distiller back in the 1850s.
DD: What’s the best way to enjoy the Founder’s Reserve and how versatile is it as a whisky product?
IL: With a friend. It’s a great whisky for you to sit down, have a dram and share a story. You can drink it however you like, as well. If you’re drinking at a bar, you can drink it neat or in a classic cocktail like a Rob Roy. There are not right or wrong answers. Founder’s Reserve is a reflection of your personal style and how you like to drink whisky.
DD: Define the Founder’s Reserve in 3 words.
IL: Flexible, adaptable and mixable.
DD: What were the difficulties that the Malt Master of The Glenlivet faced in trying to make this whisky?
IL: There are difficulties with trying to maintain a consistent house style, while still being able to show off its own character. It’s a fine balancing act between consistency and character. We spend plenty of time preparing samples when producing new whiskies. We have to be able to rationalise everything with a team, and to ensure that we have enough stock to keep going after the first batch goes out. Again, it’s striking a balance between what you wish you could do and what you can do.
DD: How was the price point decided for the whisky?
IL: We were very keen to create a non-age statement product, and wanted it to rival with a 12-year-old bottle. We wanted to make Founder’s Reserve as accessible to most people as possible, and we think we have been successful at doing that over the past two years.
DD: Why were American casks used to age the whisky?
IL: American casks show off the distillery’s character at its best. The casks were created from the American oak tree as there is a chemical created in the wood that emits vanillin compounds. If you have tasted bourbon or rye, the coconut, honey and buttery notes are the first to come through, and they all use American oak. In the case of Founder’s Reserve, the sweet vanilla notes lend itself to the natural fruitiness that is created during fermentation. It is important to balance the wood with the character of the distillate.
DD: What other projects does The Glenlivet have in mind?
IL: Without giving away too much, we’re always looking to innovate. New things always come along and we are constantly watching the market to see how things change. We have new products in line for the next 18 months, and we will never stop developing new ranges.
Head on to their website here at:
https://www.theglenlivet.com/en-EN
