Whiskey_Hound
Glenfiddich 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
March 26, 2020 (edited May 4, 2020)
Last time I checked, Glenfiddich 12 was the number one single malt in the world. Maybe it's been surpassed, but I doubt it. As for me, I think this has been my #1 purchase over the years. This was one of my gateway Scotches, and has always been one of the better options for under $50. This is the old packaging (not the one pictured). Let's check it out.
Nose: Fruity and floral. Green apple, pear, apricot, strawberry, nectarine, lemon, and raisin. A true fruit bomb. Definitely some green, grassy notes. Creamy custard, vanilla frosting, honey, graham cracker, toffee, roasted peanuts, almonds, and chestnut. Baking spices and oak. Solid nose.
Palate: A bit more sherry influence than the nose. Some plum and cola in addition to the raisin from before. Still some apple, pear, apricot, and lemon. Not quite as fruity as before. The bourbon barrel also shows up in the form of caramel and vanilla. Some honey, toffee, and malt. Walnut and almond. Oak and char. Once again, very nice.
Finish: Despite being 40% ABV, this one stretches to a medium length finish. The apple and pear are still there, as well as the lemon citrus. A touch of cinnamon, black pepper, and some other baking spices.
I might get some heat for this one, but I'm giving this a 4.0. Perhaps it's sentimentalism or maybe it's just good VFM. Either way, I really like this one. Great VFM, enough flavor to please.
Over the past few years, the price on this has risen a buck every 6-12 months. I used to get this for $43, now I get it for $48. And this is before tariffs warp the pricing. With that being said, VFM heavily impacts my reviews, and this is one of my favorites sub-$50. Highly recommended to any beginner. Great whisky to have on hand for guests. And substantially better than the other "Glen 12" that sits at this price point. Cheers!
48.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@kylejager No worries man! VFM stands for value for money
I’m new to whisky, scotch and the rest so please forgive my question - but what does VFM mean?
@1901 @BDanner Thanks guys! 1901, totally agreed!
@Ctrexman I've tried most but never owned, besides Bunna 12 and Glengoyne 12. Both are superior but both are also $50+ here. I think I'll grab a LL12 or Tomatin next
Nice review! Looks like NC prices run about 10% higher than yours, but I agree...this is still great VFM for a Single Malt. A crowdpleaser, too. No one has ever objected to a pour of this at my house. @Ctrexman you can get Classic Laddie for sub $50? It’s $65 here, and never on sale.
Nice review and I agree that Glenfiddich is a good VFM goto. It’s what i lean towards in a bar with few options. And sentimentality should beat objectivity once in a while. I’d argue that Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom deserves a place among the best movies ever!
In my area for 50 or less.....Deanston 12, Aberfeldy 12, Bunna 12, Bruichladdich Classic, Loch Lomand 12, Tomatin 12, Glengoyne 12, Jura 10, Ancnoc 12, are all above imo
@Whiskey_Hound bummer on your prices. We hate taxes here in Texas so everything is cheaper!
@WhiskeyLonghorn Thanks man! All good ones! Unfortunately, only GlenMo 10 and Lap 10 are sub-$50 here in Jersey. I've come to accept that we get a great selection of harder to find bottlings, but also have to pay a little extra for just about everything. All in all it's not a bad deal
@Whiskey_Hound below $50 is rough for single malt. $60 is usually my threshold for a good 12 year. Ardbeg 10, Ledaig 10, and Laphroaig 10 retail under $50 in Texas on the peat side. So does Craigaillaiche (sp?) 13, Benriach 10, Glenfarclas 12, and Glenmorangie 10, Lasanta, and Quinta Ruban on the non peated side. I’ve somehow not tried Glenfiddich or Glenlivet yet (I have a soft spot for another “Glen”), but you have written a compelling review here. First rule is to drink what you like the way you like to drink it. Cheers friend.
@Ctrexman That's a fair point, but I'm curious as to which others are better at this point? Besides bourbons of course. In my area, there are only a handful of Scotches priced below $50 so our mileage may vary
Yes I must give you just a little flack. Its ok but many others in price range easily best it. Thats the beauty of our own opinions who cares what someone else thinks as long as it works for you