Too simple
I don't know what it used to be but I've had 3 bottles in the last year or so and in my opinion it is just an average whisky. On nose, only vanilla and green apples. On palate, apples and honey. Development is faint. Finish is unnoticeable.
Master of Malt Customer Dec 27, 2016
SOLID!
Here in California, Glenlivet 12 is quite a bit more affordable than a lot of my favorite malts, including but not limited to Balvenie, Ardbeg, Old Pulteney, Glenfarclas, Highland Park, and (when I have extra money) Springbank (my favorite). At my local store, pretty much all of those are $50-$70 and up (and usually worth it), but Glenlivet remains in the $40-or-less region, probably because of how much is produced and shipped.
That said, I really enjoy it on its own merits. If I'm not in desperate need of smokiness (which it lacks), I can really find no fault in a dram of Glenlivet 12. Nice and fresh tasting; fruity, a bit nutty, lightly creamy, and an extremely pleasant sweet/dry balance. Not too complex, but rather refreshingly straightforward, with a nice lingering fruit and nut aftertaste. Very well balanced between light/fresh and rich/creamy.
Some other malts in this low price range, I find, often have a certain acrid, burning-plastic bitterness that just turns me off. If an affordable single malt tastes like that, I'd be better off with a halfway decent blend.
Glenlivet, though, is SOLID. It's not exciting, but it hits all the right 'classic Scotch' notes, without any weird, off, or unnecessary qualities. It simply tastes like good Scotch whisky, period. And at it's low price, it actually is a bit exciting!
