The Glenlivet has returned to its past to launch a new whisky series in the present.
The brand has historical ties to the Pullman Company, a pioneer of first-class railroad travel. The company says this is due to the “business savvy” of Captain Bill Smith Grant, Founder George Smith’s last distilling descendant. Grant was able to persuade the Pullman Company to offer 2-ounce miniatures of The Glenlivet as one of the only Scotch whiskies available in the dining cars, helping to spread the whisky’s fame across the US.
To commemorate this piece of The Glenlivet’s history, The Glenlivet Single Cask Edition Pullman Train Collection are three new, special-edition Single Cask whiskies. They mark the first time ever that the brand has released a Single Cask exclusively in the US.
The name of each bottle is inspired by the Pullman connection: Pullman Club Car, Pullman Twentieth Century Limited, and Pullman Water Level Route. The Glenlivet Single Cask Edition has been transferred from cask to bottle at their natural cask strength and without chill filtration. Only a few hundred bottles of whisky were drawn from each cask, making them a collectable Single Malt series.
Each of the following Single Casks vary in aging and flavor notes:
Pullman Club Car: Named after the Club Car that appeared on the Pullman Trains, the original luxury travel experience in the U.S. – from the end of Prohibition when The Glenlivet was one of the first single malts to launch in the states. Aged in Sherry Butt for 18 years, this cask has an initial burst of sweet fruity ripe pears, syrupy peaches, and creamy milk chocolate, the company says, followed by a subtle background note of nutmeg. On the finish: notes of sweet orange, toasted almonds and warm cinnamon. The Pullman Club Car has a limited availability of only 618 bottles.
Pullman Twentieth Century Limited: Known as “The Most Famous Train in the World,” the Twentieth Century Limited club cars could travel overland from New York to Chicago overnight in record time. Aged in European Oak Butt for 14 years, to the nose this cask has sweet and soft notes of honey, golden syrup and creamy vanilla, the company says, followed by a touch of floral gorse in full bloom. The palate is lively citrus orange, spicy ginger marmalade and cinnamon, rounded off by soft sweet notes of ripe pears. The finish has a hint of spice. Only 588 bottles of the Pullman Twentieth Century Limited are available for purchase.
Pullman Water Level Route: Operating between New York City and Chicago by way of the great lakes, the Twentieth Century Limited would take the Water Level Route between the cities, which was one of the most scenic routes available. With only 321 bottles available, this whisky is aged in American Oak Hogshead for 14 years, the cask has floral notes of gorse in full bloom, balanced with soft, creamy fudge and fruity ripe peach, the company says. The palate exudes honey and vanilla, with notes of ripe honeydew melon and traditional barley sugar sweets.
The Glenlivet Single Cask Edition Pullman Train Collection will be available at retail locations and on caskers.com at a suggested retail price of $349.99 per 750-ml. bottle.
