Top 20 Whiskies of 2019

#8 • Glenlivet Enigma

  • Rank: 8
  • Year: 2019
  • Score: 93
  • Price: $149
  • ABV: 60.6%
  • Style: Single Malt
  • Place of Origin: Scotland (Speyside)

A riddle inside a bottle, this release follows Glenlivet’s previous mystery series bottlings Alpha, Cipher, and Code. Packaged in a jet-black bottle and box that look part Arthur C. Clarke monolith and part 3-D cryptic crossword puzzle, it’s devoid of cask information or tasting notes by design. The best solution is to open it and unlock the whisky’s secrets. Classic Glenlivet notes of lemon curd, melon, fresh peaches, bitter orange, and baked apples on the nose, followed by a smooth, creamy palate of marshmallow, toasted almond, marzipan, and lemon iced tea. The long, vibrant finish is replete with crème brûlée, sultana, cinnamon, and tropical fruit. —Jonny McCormick