The Glenlivet 21 Years
Twenty-one years old and finished in three casks: Oloroso sherry, Tronçais cognac and vintage Colheita port. Caramelised pear, raisins, nutmeg and cinnamon, at 43% ABV.
Three finishes for the oldest in the range
The Glenlivet 21 Years is the oldest and richest bottle in the range. After twenty-one years of maturation, the whisky receives a triple cask finish: in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, in casks made from Tronçais oak that previously held cognac, and in vintage Colheita port casks. Each finish adds its own layer: dried fruit from the sherry, spices from the cognac oak and red fruit from the port.
Where the 18 Years is full-bodied and elegant, the 21 is sumptuous. Notes of caramelised pear and juicy raisins mingle with aromatic nutmeg and warming cinnamon. It is bottled at 43%, slightly stronger than the rest of the range, giving it just a little more body. This is a whisky for a birthday, an anniversary or an evening you want to remember.
In brief
Caramelised pear and warm spices
Pear & raisin
Lush caramelised pear and juicy raisins, with an aromatic note of nutmeg.
Rich and fruity
Full and fruity, with sultanas and red fruit from the port casks and a deep sweetness from the sherry.
Cinnamon
A long, warming finish with cinnamon and nutmeg, and the spices of the cognac oak.
Tasting profile of The Glenlivet 21 Years neat. The richest and most spicy bottle in the range.
A ritual for a special moment
You don't mix a twenty-one-year-old whisky. Take your time, choose a good glass and drink it neat.
Neat, with a quarter of an hour's patience
Pour 3 cl into a tulip-shaped tasting glass and let it rest for fifteen minutes. The pear and raisins come first, followed later by nutmeg and cinnamon. Taste in small sips.
Glass: tasting glass →Find the three casks
Taste consciously for the three finishes: dried fruit and nuts from the sherry, spices from the cognac oak, and red fruit from the port. A drop of water helps separate the layers.
Tasting glasses →With a piece of Christmas stollen or nut cake
2 to 3 cl without ice alongside Christmas stollen, nut cake, or roasted nuts. The raisins and cinnamon in the whisky find their echo in them.
Whisky glasses →What you do mix: the rest of the range
Drink the 21 Years neat. If you want to make cocktails with The Glenlivet, use the Founder's Reserve or the 12 Years; below are the recipes we recommend for them.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, and bitters. Make it with the 12 Years.
Hot Toddy
Whisky with hot water, honey, lemon, and cinnamon. Wintery and spiced.
Godfather
Whisky with amaretto over ice. Sweet, warming, and ideal after dinner.
Whisky cocktails
All whisky cocktails at a glance, from Manhattan to Penicillin.The right glass for The Glenlivet 21 Years
A tulip-shaped tasting glass or small cognac glass concentrates the rich aromas. Crystal is perfect for a gift or a celebratory occasion.
More flavours from The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet
Where it began. On the brand page, read all about The Glenlivet: its origins, varieties, and classic cocktails.
To The Glenlivet →
The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve
Orange, pear and caramel. Smooth, creamy and the ideal malt for a highball.
View The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve →
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
Rum casks add banana, toffee and tropical fruit. A summery malt for ginger ale and tiki drinks.
View The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve →
The Glenlivet 15 Years French Oak Reserve
Partly matured in Limousin oak. Spicier and creamier than the 12, with nuts and spices.
View The Glenlivet 15 Years French Oak Reserve →
The Glenlivet 18 Years
European and American oak, first and second fill. Full-bodied, elegant and with a long finish.
View The Glenlivet 18 Years →Everything about whisky: the types, best-known brands and cocktails.
Questions about The Glenlivet 21 Years
Can't find your question? Read more on the page about The Glenlivet or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about The Glenlivet →