Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Most people think of Scotch as a one-dimensional entity - words like smoke, iodine, burnt rubber are tossed around - but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. What IS true is that around 90% of the Scotch Whisky market (yes - there’s no “e” used in Scotland, only in the US, Ireland, and select other markets) is blended whiskies like Johnnie Walker, Dewar’s, Chivas Regal, etc. Single Malt Scotches - even well-known ones like The Glenlivet - are a small, small part of the overall market.
When distilleries like The Glenlivet announce the millions of LPAs (Litres of alcohol per annum) they’re producing per year, most of it is going to blended whiskies. The fact that single malts have gained prominence in recent years is not because of their wide range - it’s because they’re still the exception, not the rule.
Glenlivet - along with its Speyside sisters Glenfiddich and Macallan - dominate the single malt market. They exemplify the Speyside/Highland character of light to medium-bodied whiskies, fruity, often sherry-finished, and noticeably lacking the smoke found in Islay and Island whiskies.
Glenlivet 12 Year Old: Specs
Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Origin: Glenlivet Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 12 YO
Location: N/A
Glenlivet 12 Year Old Price: $35-40 (MSRP)
Glenlivet 12 Year Old: Tasting Notes
Eye: Bright honey, think rims and legs.
Nose: Tons of apple, first green apple tartness then gala and honeycrisp sweetness. Lemon-honey syrup in a light black tea.
Palate: Interesting smoky note up front - that’s unexpected, and it attacks my tongue. Dissipates slowly into tannic acidity. Deceptively heavy mouthfeel on the second sip that opens deep, rich honey notes. The orchard fruits continue to build.
Finish: Apples and honey coat the mouth - delicious, simple, coating.
Overall: A delicious Highlander/Speysider. Not sure where the smoke is coming from - might be barrel char more than anything else, but it’s still unexpected. Definitely a bar staple for a reason.
Final Rating: 7.2
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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