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Highland Park's reputation precedes it — Orkney's finest, distilling since 1798, the 12 often held up as a benchmark for balanced, lightly-peated, sherried Scotch. In the glass: gentle heather smoke, honey and dried fruit, smooth and easy-drinking, with a medium finish of oak and lingering smoke. Reputations are made to be tested, though — does it earn its billing?
There's something quietly rebellious about Bunnahabhain. While the rest of Islay shouts about peat, this remote distillery lets sherry and coastal character lead. The unpeated 12, their flagship, is rich and inviting: nutty dried fruit — raisins and figs — Christmas-cake spice and a whisper of coastal salt, all remarkably smooth at 46.3%. Proof Islay can do far more than peat bombs.
Benriach is one of the rare Speyside distilleries making both peated and unpeated spirit. Today it's 'The Twelve', their unpeated core expression. Rich maple syrup and a floral lift lead to torched orange, honey and gentle malt, before a long finish punctuated with pepper and ginger. A quietly confident, classic sherried Speysider in a crowded category — does it stand out?
One glance tells you this is meant to be a 'fine' whisky — royal-blue foil, classy label, rich colour, all trading on a regal history out on the Cawdor Estate. Royal Brackla has the look, and the 12 has the depth too: Christmas-pudding dried fruit, syrupy plum and cherry, warm spice and a touch of chocolate. But at nearly £70, does it back up the price?
This one sat unopened in my cupboard for a while; a frosty New Year's Day felt like the moment. From the box alone, Mortlach — 'The Beast of Dufftown' — wants you to take it seriously. And it's a brute in the best way: dried fruit, dark toffee and a savoury, meaty umami note, with a long, dry, peppery finish. That singular character comes from its quirky 2.81-times distillation.
I'm rounding out my little 'side quest' through Loch Lomond's whiskies with arguably their base expression — the 12-year-old from the core range (not Inchmoan or Inchmurrin, confusing I know). As I covered a few weeks ago, the core range blends a little sweetness with just a hint of smoke. So how does the entry point hold up?
Loch Lomond makes a bewildering variety of whiskies, and the Inchmoan is their peated strand. The 12 turned out to be a real highlight: a gentle, syrupy nose gives way to a bolder palate of smoked bacon, black pepper and bonfire embers over creamy malt, with a long, warming finish touched by dark chocolate. Smoke and sweetness in fine balance — and keenly priced.
Possibly the strangest bottle I've met so far — 'Singleton' is a Diageo brand spanning three different distilleries. This is the widely-available Dufftown version. Confusing branding aside, is there a good dram underneath? Expect polished wood and toasted hazelnuts giving way to citrus, a nutty core and a zesty, medium finish. Pleasant enough — but at its £37 RRP, is it really worth your money?
GlenDronach has earned a cult-like following since its revival under the legendary Billy Walker. My own encounters have been limited, so this richly sherried 12 — born of a tumultuous, much-changed history — feels overdue. Expect a wave of syrupy sherry sweetness, a silky, buttery palate and a drier finish laced with nutmeg and ginger. A proper sherry bomb, but does it earn the hype?
Greetings, fellow Centurions! This week we explore Tamdhu 12 Year Old. From a quaint but resilient distillery established in 1896, Tamdhu quietly forged its legacy before being embraced by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2011 — rising from a period of closure under new stewardship, with a distinct bottle shape that stands out from the crowded Speyside marketplace.
Glenlivet is a cornerstone of Scotch — Scotland's oldest legal distillery and a global beacon for the category. The 12 is everywhere, which is exactly why it's worth asking: is the world's default Speyside actually any good? Delicate orchard fruits, vanilla and honey make for an easy, accessible pour — but is 'easy' enough when a whisky is this widely revered? My answer might surprise you.
There's something enchanting about Fettercairn's 12 year old that has captivated me for as long as I can remember — I'm drawn to it like Gollum to his treasure, albeit more wholesomely! And the distillery's unusual emblem, an elegant unicorn emblazoned on the bottle, only adds to the allure: said to represent purity and strength, which bodes well for the whisky.
Balvenie is many people's gateway to single malt. Having already covered the trusty DoubleWood 12, I'm turning to a more unusual variation from the distillery's experimental 'Stories' collection — finished in toasted American oak. Expect vanilla fudge, candied citrus and a wave of toffee sweetness. It's a lovely concept, but does the experiment justify the extra outlay over the everyday DoubleWood?
GlenAllachie is one of the new breed of distilleries — forward-thinking, but built on decades of expertise. When master distiller Billy Walker and his partners took over in 2017, they transformed it from a blend supplier into a single malt name in its own right. The 12-Year-Old is the cornerstone of that reinvention, and the bottle that put GlenAllachie on the map. Worth the hype?
Glen Elgin sits just outside the Speyside town where I grew up, so this one's personal. It's a quiet workhorse of the blends, rarely bottled as a single malt — which makes the 12 something of a hidden gem. Marzipan and toffee apples on the nose, a peppery, orange-zest palate, and a long, spicy finish. At under £40, is this nostalgic dram worth seeking out?
Welcome to the heartland of the Scottish whisky industry — the realm of twelve-year-old whiskies. While whisky must legally age for a minimum of three years, it's the twelve-year mark that truly embodies the pinnacle of maturity and flavour development: a sweet spot of depth, character and value. Here are five of the best.
Glen Grant 12 sits squarely in the fiercely competitive £30–£50 realm of 12 year old Scotch — a category drowning in options. It's a pleasant, light Speysider: apples, pears and a touch of citrus, easy and approachable, if let down by an unremarkable finish. A cautious, safe dram from a big name — so does it do enough to stand out from the crowd?
In the realm of single malt Scotch whiskies, Glenkinchie 12 stands as a beacon of sophistication, capturing the essence of the Lowland style. This, Diageo-owned, distillery is based just outside Edinburgh and the whisky itself is distilled in some of Scotland’s largest stills giving it a lovely, light character. Diageo market this as an apperatif or pre-dinner dram but frankly I’d happily drink it any time!
The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood takes its name from the now-common process of 'wood finishing' — a technique pioneered by one of Balvenie's former Malt Masters in the 1980s and refined by the distillery over decades. They're far from the only ones using it these days, but as you'll find out below, they may well be doing it better than most.
For our next stop on this adventure through the world of whisky, we set our sights on Tomatin 12. A Highland single malt from a distillery that has spent much of its history providing whisky for blends. Only relatively recently (since around 2000) has the distillery switched some of its focus to growing its single malts such as this one.
A Christmas present to myself: the Tobermory 12, an enchanting island single malt from the Isle of Mull. It's full of intricate, distinctive character — orchard fruit on the nose, then citrus brightened with caramel and vanilla over a slightly oily body, into a medium, gently spiced finish. The distillery's history has been anything but smooth, yet the whisky it makes today is excellent.
Nestled along the River Dee in the Highlands, Royal Lochnagar is the smallest distillery by volume in Diageo's vast portfolio. Just a stone's throw from Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family's Scottish residence, it has a heritage dating back to the 1840s — its proximity to Balmoral made it the favoured whisky of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, earning its regal moniker.
The Cragganmore distillery is part of the huge Diageo group. It is a widely believed that most of the whisky they produce is used in some of Diageo’s blended whiskies, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Old Parr and White Horse to name a few, for the export market. However they do have some single malt expressions sold under the Cragganmore name, including this 12 year aged one.
Macallan is renowned for its commitment to craftsmanship, quality and the luxury market, has created a whisky delivering a tasting experience that reflects the brand’s commitment to its values. While Macallan whiskies are often hailed as icons in the Scottish whisky industry, I find myself grappling with a sense of conflict. For me whisky is raw, sturdy and accessible, qualities that seem somewhat absent in this particular dram.
Welcome, fellow whisky enthusiasts! Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey into the world of spirits, as I set out to explore and savor 100 different whiskies. Buckle up, because we're about to embark on a spirited adventure filled with rich flavors, unique aromas, and the stories behind each bottle.
What better way to kick off this journey of rediscovery than with my everyday favourite? Since it replaced the 10 year old in 2020, Aberlour 12 has firmly established itself as one of the quintessential Speyside whiskies, and it holds a special place in my heart. Readily available and typically £30–40, it's an irresistible choice for connoisseurs and newcomers alike.
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