GLENLIVET Ciper puzzles the palate

SCOTCH WHISKY maker Glenlivet has a riddle for fans of single malt – it’s just released a limited edition of The Glenlivet Cipher without any cask information or tasting notes. You have to figure out what went into it on your own.
The Cipher was “unveiled” recently at the Chow Bar & Cafe on Bangkok’s Soi Thong Lor, but the mystery remains intact. Thailand is one of 25 markets around the world for this promotion and just 600 bottles are available here.
Glenlivet master distiller Alan Winchester knows what’s inside the opaque black bottle. He’s used a cask combination that’s never been tried before at the plant in Moray, Scotland. The flavour is certainly new, though Glenlivet’s characteristic smooth fruitiness has been maintained.
At the Chow Bar tasting led by brand ambassador Darren Hosie, the fans noticed pineapple, vanilla and perfume in the bouquet, while on the palate it was warm and sweet with hints of honey, almond and spice. Soft, mellow and pleasant, it has the distinct character of classic Speyside whisky.
Deciphering the Cipher begins with a clue on the label. There’s a prompt to visit the firm’s “microsite”, Cipher.TheGlenlivet.com. There, Winchester appears in a video describing the challenge and offers help in the form of tasting tips and other hints.
You’re encouraged to create a “flavour wheel” by selecting six aromas for the nose and six tastes for the palate, indicating the strength of each. There are more than 10,000 possible combinations. Then you receive a cipher of tasting notes and a percentage score based on your flavour wheel that can be shared on the social media with fellow enthusiasts.
At some future date, Winchester will reveal the official tasting notes to the Glenlivet Guardians, an online community of aficionados.
 “The rise in popularity of single-malt Scotch whisky over the past 10 years means that more people than ever are actively nosing, tasting and discussing it, which is fantastic,” he says.
“The Glenlivet Cipher presents a challenge for Scotch whisky fans at all levels. For the true whisky connoisseurs out there, we’ve combined a unique and original selection of casks to craft the Cipher as part of our commitment to building upon the flawlessly smooth and fruity house style of The Glenlivet.
“I very much look forward to seeing which fans manage to decipher the expression’s exact flavour profile and cask makeup.”