🥃 The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
Classic 12-year-old The Glenlivet: Speyside, 40 % vol., 'Double Oak' — European oak first, then American.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old is the classic whisky of The Glenlivet range from Speyside, at 40 % vol. with a minimum maturation of 12 years. The label carries the words 'Double Oak'. Difford's Guide describes it as light and fruity: pineapple, peach, pear, vanilla and citrus, with hazelnut in the finish.
The name 'Double Oak' refers to a two-stage maturation: the whisky first rests in European oak casks, then moves to American oak casks, where it completes its maturation. The base is local unpeated barley malt, water from Josie's Well and copper stills at the Ballindalloch distillery. The law requires at least 3 years in oak, but here the age on the label is far longer.
Why this matters to you. The 12-year-old is a convenient benchmark: it is lighter than the 18-year-old, and Founder's Reserve has no age statement. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the blend. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | distillery founded 1824, per Difford's Guide |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | barley malt; water from Josie's Well |
| Cask type | first European oak, then American oak (Double Oak) |
| Minimum maturation | 12 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40 % vol. |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Glenlivet 12 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 The Glenlivet, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso, 🥃 The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso, 🥃 Glenfiddich
Frequently asked questions
Does 'Double Oak' mean double distillation?
No: according to Difford's Guide, it refers to two types of oak casks — European first, then American.
What is the strength of The Glenlivet 12?
40 % vol., according to Difford's Guide.
What does it taste like?
According to Difford's Guide, light and fruity: pineapple, peach, pear, vanilla, citrus.
What to read next
- 🥃 The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso — The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso: Speyside, 48 % vol., first-fill sherry casks, no chill filtration or added colouring.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Glenfiddich — Distillery and brand of single malt scotch in Dufftown (Speyside), founded in 1886; owned by the family firm William Grant & Sons; the 12-year-old is 40% ABV.
Similar
🥃 The Glenlivet 18 Year Old · 🥃 The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve · 🥃 The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve · 🥃 The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso · 🥃 Knockando 15 Year Old · 🥃 Knockando 18 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: The Glenlivet 12 Year Old (40 % ABV; Double Oak: European oak then American oak; minimum 12 years; Speyside)
- Difford's Guide: The Glenlivet Distillery (Ballindalloch, Speyside; established 1824; Josie's Well; unpeated malted barley; copper pot stills)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)
Also listed under
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskySpeyside whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyThe Glenlivet
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch Whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyThe Glenlivet