Glenlivet 12 (1990s) (semi-blind)

Review by: Raygun

Glenlivet 12 remains a pretty standard starter single malt, the kind of thing that a bar with two single malts would stock. It still turns up for me sometimes at family gatherings, though by now it’s been a few years since I had it. The modern version is truly nothing special: not bad, but dull. But was it better 30 years ago before single malt Scotch was very popular? Thanks to an advent calendar put together by some friends, I had the chance to find out. This was from sometime in the 1990s. Reviewed from a sample and initially tasted blind. Rested for 10-15 minutes.

Distillery: Glenlivet

Bottler: Glenlivet

Region/style: Speyside

ABV: 40%.

Age: 12 years

Cask type: Probably ex-bourbon, but they’re not specifying

Color: 1.3 russet. Colored and chill-filtered.

Nose: Apple juice, caramel, and a hint of tobacco leaf. Sugar cookies.

Palate: Malty, but from where? Cereal, cookies, honey are the main flavors now. Some apple, but less than the nose. Maybe a bit of plum. Leans heavy on the malt flavors, with a hint of chocolate. Seems a bit flat and lifeless.

Finish: Mild. Cereal, bran muffins, caramel. No heat to be found, and not a ton of oak. There are touches of spice, but “mild” sums it up well.

Conclusion: I initially guessed it was Glensomething, and sure enough, it was Glensomething. Glensomething 12 to be more specific. It’s maybe a little more interesting than modern Glenlivet 12 I suppose, but I don’t think it’s a huge leap from what I remember. Mild and pretty typical Speyside flavors. The modern version is nothing special at all, and it was nothing special 30 years ago. I suppose on the bright side, the quality hasn’t declined much over the years.

Score: 74

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
  • 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)

Published by Raygun

Unknown's avatar

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

Leave a Reply