Whisky: Glenlivet 12 Year “First Fill”

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 43.2%

Cask: First Fill American Oak

Age: 12 Years

Nose: Apples and pears, shortbread cookies, vanilla cream, apple blossom, hints of pineapple, butter, streusel coffee cake topping.

Palate: Light-bodied, oily, sliced apples, apple sauce, green grape, pear, spirited prickle, subtle pastries and nuts.

Finish: Medium-length with green grape, apple sauce, and mellow cinnamon.

Score: 4-5

Mental Image: American Pie-Scented Candle

Narrative & Notes: The clarion call of apple pie rang out true on the aroma of this whisky with baskets of pealed gala apples, pears, butter, vanilla cream, and hints of cinnamon. Shortbread cookies and streusel coffee cake topping provided alternative visions for a pie topping, while hints of pineapple and nectarine suggested other fruity fillings might be available. Light-bodied yet oily, the palate featured sliced apples, apple sauce, green grapes, pears, and a mellow-spirited prickle. Hints of pastries and chopped nuts hung further in the background. The finish was medium-length with green grapes, apple sauce, and mellow cinnamon spice.

About what you would expect from a young-ish first-fill bourbon Glenlivet; something that is friendly, dependable, but not terribly deep. I thought the aroma was quite enjoyable and reminded me of some of the recent SMWS Glenlivet releases, which have been stuffed with plenty of apples and apple pie. The palate was a bit of a letdown as the flavors all felt a bit washed out and not as crisp as I expected. I wondered if they would pop more at cask strength like the Nàdurra releases. Still, I assume the bottling strength was intentionally set so that certain flavors came out in the forward position and any wood spice could be kept to a minimum.

Overall, there is a reason Glenlivet perennially ranks as the best or second-best selling single malt brand in the globe; the malt is dependable, approachable, and sold at a wide variety of different ages and price points. I thought this one was quite enjoyable; not something I would seek out, but I would happily accept a pour, especially if I could have this on the rocks on a warm evening.