Review: The Glenlivet 12 Years Old Excellence

Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky

Origin: The Glenlivet Distillery

Bottling: Pernod Ricard

ABV: 40%

Cost: £38.80 from The Glenlivet Distillery

What they say:

This 12 year old Glenlivet ‘Excellence’ is to commemorate founder George Smith’s Original pairing of the balanced signature style of Glenlivet with selective maturation in Ex-Sherry Casks.

What I say:

Now I know this was definitely from Richard at Adventures in Whiskyland – read their article on this here. Purchased directly from the distillery but other than that mostly only available in the Far Eastern market (similar in a way to Diageo’s Singleton of Glen Ord)

Colour:

Full amber gold (10/20) slow-moving medium-sized droplet tears leave very fine legs

Nose:

Honey & fruit, peaches, apricot, floral, cereal barley grist, orange, barley sugar sweeties, orange blossom, honeysuckle, summer flower meadows

Taste:

Quite light & watery in mouthfeel at 40%, honey & golden syrup, vanilla sponge & madeira cake, orange and lemon (sweet not sharp & citric), barley sugar sweeties, fragrant/floral; rose, apple, rosemary? a little herbal

Finish:

Medium-short, light, sweet and floral.

Overall:

Lovely nose on this expression, the palate was a little thin/light-bodied but still pleasantly fruity, quite a gentle dram.

Score: 83/100

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