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Glenlivet 12 Year Old

The Apple Juice Malt

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@SquidgyAshReview by @SquidgyAsh

17th Apr 2012

0

Glenlivet 12 Year Old
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    18
  • Finish
    17
  • Balance
    18
  • Overall
    74

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I picked up my bottle at the same time as I picked up my bottle of Macallan Fine Oak 12 yr old. I pick up a bottle or two every payday and this time I'd promised my lovely wife a couple of bottles of Speysides as these tend to be her favorite whiskies.

The Macallan Fine Oak 12 yr old instantly became one of my favorite whiskies out there, but sadly the same could not said for the Glenlivet 12 yr old.

The day after I tasted the Macallan I decided to crack open the bottle of Glenlivet to see how they compared.

The smell that hit me from across the room as I set up the glencairns was apple juice. Strong apple juice with a bite. After I poured myself a dram I put it up to my nose the apple juice hit my nose hard. In the background was oak, cinnamon and a couple hints of flowers, but nothing I could put my finger on.

As I take a sip the flavor of alcohol hits my tongue, very strong for just 40% ABV. I taste apples again, a bit of oak, a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. But sadly for me the alcohol flavor overrides most of the other flavors.

The finish is fiarly short especially compared to some other malts with the oak dominating with some spices in the background.

This IS an intro malt. For $50 bucks AUS it's not bad, but nor is it great. I'd rather spend a few more bucks in order to get a more complex flavorful single malt like the Talisker 10 yr old or if you're looking for something fruity the Macallan Fine Oak 12 yr old.

Do I regret buying it? Nope. Will I buy another bottle when I finish this one? I doubt it. Each whisky is a new experience, but don't look for anything world shattering in this bottle.

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3 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

Yes, some whiskies do taste a lot like apple juice! I do also think 'apples' is a good way to describe the major theme in Glenlivet 12.

12 years ago 0

@systemdown
systemdown commented

Nice, an accurate review pretty consistent with my experience too. It IS an entry level malt. Earth shattering it is not. It might possibly not be as good as it used to be today, I will have to compare a recent bottling to my "old" bottle I reviewed a while ago.

You may find that it opens up with time in the glass. Try it in two weeks' time and at four weeks and spend at least 30 minutes with it. You may see an improvement (or you may not)!

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't pay $50 for a bottle presently. I've seen it in the low $40's on special every now and again, at that price, I may consider it, but only if I want a palette refresher of my "reference malt". If I were after a sipping malt whisky in that price range I'd go the Monkey Shoulder any day.

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

Thanks guys for the nice comments!

I always do a review after having tried the whisky a couple of times and I always need a dram in front of me just in case I think I might miss something. With a partially blocked nose today I opened the bottle and the smell of apple juice punched me in the face from across the room. It seems to be a major theme in the Glenlivet 12 yr old.

@Systemdown for myself at this time if I need a sipping whisky in the range where I'd be willing to pick up another bottle I'd stick with a bottle of Blantons bourbon or if it's at that $50 dollar price tag I'll snag another bottle of Aberlour which was quite enjoyable. I haven't tried Monkey Shoulder yet. Sounds interesting!! Btw my friend I plugged your blog in my review of Macallan Fine Oak 12 yr old. I hope you don't mind, but I thought you made some very good points in your Talisker 10 yr old review.

12 years ago 0