Glenfiddich 12 Year Our Original Twelve

Nose: Vanilla, apple, pear, citrus, light floral honey, buttery malt. There is a slight nip of alcohol when neat but this dissipates with time in the glass, and even more quickly if you add a drop or two of water. The nose is a shade maltier than I remember it being in the past. Palate: Sweet, soft and fruity arrival all on apples and pears. Sweet malt shows through in the development and there is a hint of barrel char. The texture is very good being creamy, slightly oily and full. As with the nose this whisky can take a dash of water even though it is only a 40% abv expression. It’s the oiliness of the texture that makes it stand up to dilution. Finish: Short. Creamy and mildly fruity with pears and a hint of mint in the aftertaste. I last reviewed Glenfiddich 12 here on Distiller eight years ago and that was the last bottle I had until opening this one (which was a gift). The label has changed so I’m posting this review under the new Distiller listing but as far as I can tell from memory and looking at my old review this whisky is essentially the same 12 year old that Glenfiddich has been making for decades. It’s a great all round whisky that needs to make no apologies. Critics of this expression just don’t get it and in all honesty if I had to choose a desert island single malt it would probably be this. Seriously. I think a steady diet of any one premium whisky would become tiresome after a while but I could drink Glenfiddich 12 like water every day for the rest of my life without getting tired of it. I’m increasing my previous rating by one percentage point. This is, quite simply, “good” whisky that is sold at a very reasonable price and is universally available. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Nose- Fresh mint, vanilla extract, and orchard fruit. There is a slight smokiness in the background with a tad bit of peach pit. Palate- the taste is decently rich and buttery. The fruit on the nose turns a bit citrusy yet creamy like lemon curd. The vanilla still comes through with a little bit of barnyard hay. Finish is shorter and not overpowering. I get a bit-o-honey candy note, but then there is a touch of bitterness and Sulphur at the end. Not horribly off putting, but could be better. Overall- This could be like a daily drinker for a single malt fan. Has a lot of nice parts- mouthfeel, vibrant fruit, honey, but then gets disjointed in the end like a young bourbon might do. I like the mouthfeel and the fruitiness, but I don't dig the sulphur and bitterness at the end. To me it is JUST another Scotch. A good scotch, definitely not bad.... Nothing to bowl you over, but certainly nothing you would turn your nose up at.

Nose: Fruity with hints of pear, balanced. TASTE: Sweet, fruity, butterscotch, and oak. FINISH: Mid-long-smooth with a warm and relaxing finish. I like to keep a whisky decanter with a little of this in it at all times so anyone walking by can just feel free to pour a little throughout the day😊.

Implausibly, Whisky Magazine has just given this one of its highest-ever ratings: https://whiskymag.com/taste-bottling/glenfiddich-12-years-old

From nose to palate - lightly sweet with a well balanced oak, vanilla malt, and a hint of spice. Original artistry from the Original Twelve.

Did not enjoy the taste or the body. Initial thought was “this is Jameson”, but a higher price point. Not a fan.