Single Malt Cipher
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy upon release; does not age or improve further in the bottle.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate, blue cheese, roasted venison
✨ Technical Specifications
The Glenlivet Cipher is a legendary modern enigma in the world of single malt Scotch. Released in 2016 by Master Distiller Alan Winchester, this expression was presented in an opaque, matte-black bottle with absolutely no cask details, age statement, or tasting notes, challenging whisky enthusiasts to decode its flavor profile themselves. This playful secrecy harks back to the early, illicit days of Speyside distilling, when George Smith and his contemporaries had to smuggle their spirits through the rugged hills of the Livet valley. Crafted using a unique combination of casks never before used by the distillery—including first-fill American oak and sherry-seasoned casks—Cipher offers a complex, multi-layered journey of discovery that celebrates the art of sensory perception.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1824 by George Smith in the remote Livet Valley of Speyside, Scotland, The Glenlivet holds historic distinction as the first legally licensed distillery in the parish following the 1823 Excise Act. Today part of Chivas Brothers under Pernod Ricard, the distillery draws mineral-rich water from Josie's Well and employs tall, lantern-shaped copper pot stills to achieve a remarkably light and refined distillation. The Glenlivet is celebrated for setting the benchmark of classic Speyside single malt whisky, defined by a smooth, fruit-forward profile laden with orchard apples, delicate floral tones, and subtle oak, as showcased in acclaimed expressions ranging from its iconic 12 Year Old to rare editions in the Winchester and Cellar Collections.
🍇 Base Ingredient
100% Malted Barley
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
48