Here at Great Drams, we love a good anniversary celebration, and not just because it’s an excuse to enjoy a wee dram or two (as if we’d ever need an excuse). So, earlier in the year, when we heard that The Glenlivet were releasing a 12-year-old whisky in celebration of their 200th year, we knew we had to get delve deeper.
If you’ve followed the blog before and have seen my previous pieces, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Speyside whiskies, and The Glenlivet have to be up there with the best.
Having been established back in 1824, it is one of the only distilleries in Scotland to have been operational ever since its inception (with the exception of WW2). Having been founded by John Gordon Smith and George Smith, The Glenlivet Distillery is now owned by Chivas Brothers, and produces almost 6,000,000 litres of spirt every single year.
200 years is a big milestone, so when I discovered they were releasing a 12-year-old first-fill American Oak single malt, I knew I had to learn more.
Celebrating Two Centuries of Whisky Craftsmanship
Nowadays, with things as they are, if a business is able to celebrate two decades of being in operation, that in itself is great cause for celebration. To operate for two centuries, though? That’s insane, in the best possible way.
Just to put that into some sort of context, since The Glenlivet was founded, the company has survived the Great Depression and Prohibition, two World Wars, countless economic crashes and financial crashes, global pandemics, and plenty more besides. And guess what? They’re still standing, and standing tall at that.
Hailing from Speyside, their whiskies are evocative of the region, with distinctly sweet, smooth, and fruity notes. Make no mistake about it however, The Glenlivet hasn’t gotten to where it’s at just by playing it safe. They’re not afraid to innovate and try new things, which is one of the reasons why their whiskies have such staying power.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old 200 Year Anniversary Edition
200 years is a huge deal, and The Glenlivet are well aware of that. In celebration of such a momentous milestone, they wanted to release a special whisky. It had to encapsulate all that was great about Speyside single malts, but add just that little something to really help set it apart and let you know you were tasting something special.
Their 12 year old special edition whisky is certainly something special. 100% matured in first-fill American Oak casks, the whisky is presented at 43% ABV and was only available to order online through their store, though it is now popping up on various auction houses and websites.
The whisky is a bright and vibrant gold colour and offers fruity, sweet, tropical notes and aromas. There is slightly more oak here than you might expect from a Speyside, but make no mistake about it, it works an absolute treat.
On the nose you immediately pick up the scent of sticky marmalade, sweet vanilla, and oak wood. These are quickly accompanied by tropical aromas, with pineapple in particular, shining through here. Lingering in the background are floral notes, and hazelnut caramel chocolates. This dram almost feels too decadent, and that’s just on the nose.
On the palate, when you’re lucky enough to take that first sip, you can expect big and bold flavours. Madagascan vanilla and tonka bean ice cream comes through, with more than a hint of candied orange zest and sticky marmalade. These give way to notes of Bakewell tart, poached pear, and jam and coconut school dinner pudding with custard.
The finish is outrageously silky smooth with an amazing mouthfeel and an enduring sweet and fruitiness. As time passes, the sweet oak notes become more and more pronounced. This is a truly special dram to mark a special occasion. Here’s to the next 200 years. Cheers.
If you’re on the hunt for tasty, limited-edition, rare, award-winning, and unique whisky you can’t get anywhere else, be sure to check out GreatDrams.com and browse the impressive assortment of whiskies we have available.
With whiskies to suit all palates, and all budgets, along with a wealth of whisky news, we’ve something for everyone. Who knows, maybe your great-great-great grandchildren will be reading about our 200th anniversary in a couple of centuries?
Until then however, enjoy the drams and whisky-content we’ve available on the site.
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