Single Malt Glenfiddich 12-year-old review and tasting notes

The single malt Glenfiddich 12 years old is one of the best-selling whiskey bottles in the world, and the reason is straightforward: it is a very balanced, fragrant, delicate distillate, with pleasant aromas of flowers, nuts, and pears, malty on the right, zero peat and a lot of drinkability.

This balance is given by excellent aging, first in bourbon barrels to take caramelized and slightly smoky notes and then in sherry barrels to refine the roundness.

Let’s say immediately that it is the essential bottle of the Glenfiddich distillery, the largest in Scotland, located in Speyside, renowned for being the first distillery to offer a single malt Scotch in 1963 when it was still used to make practically only blended whiskey.

And do you know why?

They had problems with suppliers, and so they decided to produce with what they had, and that’s it. And so the legend was born.

For a firm, characterful, spicy, savory, or peaty whiskey, forget it: the Glenfiddich 12 is the entry-level bottle par excellence. Anyone who wants to approach whiskey tasting for the first time without being traumatized can buy it with their eyes closed.

And with this, we do not mean that it is a bland whiskey. On the contrary, it boasts a clean, aromatic profile, with various and well-blended suggestions. Even for an unpretentious meditation glass, it is excellent.

But considering its very affordable price, it is great for making cocktails. The scents are there, so use it for tiny pearls like Rob Roy, Whiskey Sour, Old Fashioned, Rusty Nail, Zazie, and Space Monkey.

The bouquet

Graceful nose punctuated with precision, first the fruitiness, then the flowers, slightly hinted sweet spices, a touch of honey, a lot of malt and dried fruit in tubs, a slight herbaceous touch to fade. Although it is stylized and perhaps a little forced, it cannot be denied that it is well done.

The flavor

It is consistent with the bouquet and of equal intensity on the palate: delicate but not too round. Indeed it has a certain herbaceous-peppery grit that doesn’t mind. Excellent balance, discreet persistence: finish of toffee, caramel, and a touch of mint.

Glenfiddich 12 years price

35 euros for the 0.75 bottle.

Food Pairings

Tiramisù, chocolate salami, pear and chocolate tart, blueberry cheesecake, chocolate truffles, apple tart.