Review by: ZoidbergOnTheRocks
Glenlivet isn’t normally a whisky I reach for, but I’ve got this random mini of the 12yr, and somewhere along the way I ended up with an interesting sample of a Signatory bottling. Feels ripe for a side-by-side.
Tasted on 11/14/2020, neat in a Glencairn.
Glenlivet 12 year old, 40% ABV in a 5cl mini. No info on coloring, filtering, or bottling date. I’m willing to bet this is a pretty standard bottle and that this expression doesn’t change much through the years. Let’s see what Gino Marzzone likes so much about it then shall we?
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Speyside
ABV: 40.0%
Age: 12 years old
Nose: liquorice, vanilla, apples & peaches, caramel, oak, cereal, green tea, all very delicate.
Taste: very mild liquorice, old apples, caramel, tea, thin mouthfeel, oil, spice fades.
Finish: grassy, very short, camphor, a little old red apple, very light liquorice, malt, green tea.
Okay, this is alright. It’s light, has some nice spice and fruit on the nose, a bit of a green tea note throughout, and it’s delicate and easy to drink. A really short finish with an extra grassy note added in, but overall this is a very simple dram without much to write home about. It’s not bad mind you. It’s not bad, but better exists.
I got this mini in a small collection of random older minis, and I have no date on this. I’m curious if current 12 is similar or not. I’d assume so, but maybe if bars ever open again I’ll try a glass and see.
Final Score: 72.
Glenlivet 15 Year Signatory Vintage 1st fill sherry
This is a 15 year old Glenlivet bottled by Signatory as part of their “Un-Chillfiltered” collection. The only other info I have on this one is it’s from a first-fill sherry cask. This is from a sample.
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Signatory Vintage (SV)
Region: Scotland, Speyside
ABV: 46.0%
Age: 15 years old.
Cask type: 1st Fill Sherry Butts
Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: very subtle overall, cherry, chocolate, musty wood, hay, camphor.
Taste: sour cherry, bitter oak, tannic, pepper, shoe polish, thin.
Finish: bitter, sour cherry and oak, pepper, bitter, longer than I want it to be, tails off into cough syrup and pepper.
Oof, this is a shame. This is pretty bad on multiple levels: the nose is poor with mostly musty wood, cherry, and camphor. The palate is bitter with some rough woody notes, sour cherry, and some sort of nasty polish note. And the finish is like bitter, sickly sweet cough syrup.
Final Score: 65.
Comparison
Order: 12 > 15
Honestly, I’m surprised by the 12. I didn’t think it would be good at all but it’s actually fairly reasonable. It’s not my cup of tea at all, but I can see why people like it and why it’s been a staple of the scotch world for decades. This 15yr Signatory though is just bad. And I’m, again, honestly surprised. This is going down as the first bad Signatory I’ve had, believe it or not.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 