Glenlivet Founder's Reserve: George Smith's 1824 Style Revisited — The Controversial NAS Replacement

Item: Glenlivet Founder's Reserve: George Smith's 1824 Style Revisited — The Controversial NAS Replacement
Rating: 7
Author: Joe Whitfield

Joe Whitfield April 10, 2026 1 views

7 /10

EDITOR

Distillery: The Glenlivet Distillery
Type: Scotch
Age: NAS
ABV: 40% ABV
Price: £28

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet malted barley, citrus, apricot, honey, light fruits — apple, pineapple — pleasant but simple

Palate

Zesty orange and pear, toffee apple, caramel, banana, vanilla spice — syrupy sweetness, smooth but lacking depth

Finish

Long, creamy — lingering vanilla with toffee and caramel — the first-fill American oak doing most of the work

First Impressions

Glenlivet Founder's Reserve — released 2014 to replace the 12 in some markets. Controversial. First-fill American oak. NAS, 40%.

Tasting

Sweet malt nose. Toffee apple palate with caramel and banana. Long, creamy vanilla finish. Smooth but simple.

The Verdict

Glenlivet Founder's Reserve earns a 6 — a reliable introductory malt at £28, but the controversy of replacing an age-stated 12 with a NAS is earned. Easy drinking, inoffensive, lacking depth. Stick with the 12 if available.

Where to Buy

Master of Malt
£34.95

Buy Now

The Whisky Exchange
£38.75

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Joe Whitfield

Editor-in-Chief

Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the whiskey industry, beginning his career at a Speyside distillery before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief at Whiskeyful.com, he oversees...