Glenlivet 12 Year First Fill

I can’t tell if this is part of their current core range, a discontinued member of that range, or a one-off. I even read somewhere that this is a travel retail exclusive. I bought this at a local store, so I know that not to be the case I unless it’s a recent development. Regardless, this seems a cool variation of a whisky that I used to love but has become mundane over time. Let’s see what the First Fill American Oak does for The Glenlivet. Nose: Apple, pear, apricot, and floral notes. Some golden raisin and apple citrus. White grape. Honey, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, malt, and caramel. Very standard Glenlivet/Speyside notes. Coconut and almond. Black pepper. Light cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Gala apple, pear, apricot, cranberry, raisin, and orange citrus. Toffee and banana. Vanilla and caramel. Coconut and almond. Butterscotch and honey. Marshmallow. Light lemon/lime citrus. It’s subtle. Maybe even a touch of cherry. The faintest cinnamon and spice. Finish: Vanilla, toffee, caramel, honey, and marshmallow. White grape and golden raisin. Almond. Raisin, dried apricot, and cranberry. Peppercorn. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Medium length. Definitely an improvement over the standard 12-year. It’s the same flavor profile, just dialed up a bit. It’s a classic Speyside malt. I won’t call this an absolute steal, but it $65, the uptick in quality over the standard 12 is worth the $10 extra bucks. I’ll give this a 3.75/5. Fun release from Glenlivet.

Nose - Poached pears, pineapple, caramel, vanilla, light cinnamon, hint of orange zest Taste - Vanilla, caramel, pineapple, light cinnamon, poached pears, coconut milk creaminess, orange zest very briefly at the front of the palate Finish - Lingering velvety cinnamon vanilla caramel, light bitterness but pleasant, sweet orange immediately after the initial swallow Score - 85/100 Final Thoughts - This was surprisingly good and I don't think I would've pegged it as a Glenlivet if tasted blind. This doesn't really have that much of the classic fresh apple/pear that I typically get from most Glenlivets. This was a completely different beast in a good way. I think I prefer this over the standard 12 as this seems to have a slightly darker, more caramel notes that I typically get with older Scotches (although it could be the slightly higher proof talking). I could see this being a great intro Scotch for some people as well as being a great budget mixer as well. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

The Glenlivet 12yr old First Fill 43.2% abv.   The Glenlivet is often the go-to scotch when introducing someone to whisky for the first time.  I’ve always enjoyed the standard 12yr old.  The older age stated 16yr old Nadurra was one of the best values going for quite some time…unfortunately those days are gone. When I first came across this one I was pretty excited to see a new take on the 12yr old.  It is age stated, matured only in first fill American oak casks and gets a small bump in abv.  On top of that the price was around $40.  The smell is– bright fresh citrus fruit, vanilla, caramel, orange rind, floral and almond.  Very nice. The taste is quite good a lot of citrus and vanilla, sour citrus with some spice and more vanilla. The finish is short mostly with the spicy orange rind.   I really enjoyed this one. It’s certainly an improvement over the standard 12yr old and the small bump in price is worth it. I would recommend this one all day. I think this plays well to both newbies and veterans of the whisky world.    Overall Grade: B

The nose is light and dominated by flowers and vanilla. There are also sweet citrus, nuts, and caramel aromas. The nose doesn’t prepare you for the punch that the palate is about to deliver. The flavor really pops on the tongue and feel much more vivid than the standard Glen 12. This whiskey feels thick, almost chewy and is heavy with cream and vanilla flavors. You can also taste buttered biscuits, sweet citrus, and coconut. The finish is silky and lingers quite a bit. After the initial cream flavors on the palate the finish taste much spicier, with ginger and cinnamon. After the spice fades you’re left with a nice oak flavor on the tongue leaving you craving another sip. This scotch is nothing like the standard Glenlivet 12, it packs a lot more flavor into every sip and is a great value at under $40. In fact it might be my favorite scotch in the price range.

A much more flavored expression of the 12yo, this one has been matured using first fill casks. The speyside character stays but makes a statement: "im here and i am easy drinkable". 40%abv On the nose it is not complex at all. It is very straightforward and that works fine. Honey, apples and cereal. Like having a honey corn flakes for breakfast. Nice, rewarding. On the palate the speyside profile continues. Apples and pears. Fresh fruit. Apple juice. Aftertaste is peppery with a little burnt oak. Oak spice. To really describe this whisky i can only say that if i need to teach someone about whisky this might just be the perfect speysider example. Super fruity. 81 over 100. It is not expensive so go grab one.

A great step up from the regular 40% abv 12. A more refined scotch for the connoisseur who still enjoys The Glenlivet. Very little fruitiness as compared to the regular 12. Vanilla, caramel with spice like cinnamon and a hint of dark chocolate sweetness; a moderate finish. I find this to have a medium to light mouthfeel. The more I drink, the more I like it. Bottled at a respectable 43.2% abv, this is a class act; an elegant scotch. Okay, The Glenlivet, a mass producer of good single malt scotch for the masses; but that doesn’t mean they can’t produce a better 12yo malt. As a matter of fact, they can and did. Great quality and value for the price, a keeper.