The Glenlivet 12 Provence Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

 

If you’ve heard anything about Scotch, you’ve likely heard of The Glenlivet. I say that with some authority, as it is the #1 best-selling single malt Scotch in the United States and the #2 best-selling globally.

 

The Glenlivet has a storied history. George Smith established this Speyside distillery in 1824. According to The Glenlivet, in 1822, King George IV wound up in Scotland and asked Smith for a pour or so of his illegal but still respected Glenlivet whisky. Smith wasn’t a dummy and gave the king what he asked for. Smith applied for the first legal distilling license in Glenlivet Parish two years later.

 

Of course, that didn’t sit well with the other illicit distillers in the area, who threatened to burn his distillery to the ground with him in it! From that point forward, he was never without his pair of trusty flintlock pistols.

 

About a decade later, Smith was distilling almost 200 gallons weekly, which naturally caught the attention of his competition.

 

In 1871, Smith passed away, and his son, John Gordon Smith, stepped up to continue operations. The competition decided they would also call themselves Glenlivet, and Smith, a former lawyer, successfully obtained exclusive rights in 1884 to have his whisky called The Glenlivet. The distillery has been running continuously sans a hiatus during World War II.

 

The Glenlivet’s flagship Single Malt Scotch whisky is its Aged 12 Years expression. The Glenlivet has used it as a base for other, sometimes limited, releases that are finding their way under its Beyond Speyside Series. One such example is the subject of today’s review: Provence Edition.  

 

“With the Provence Edition, we wanted to take The Glenlivet somewhere unexpected. The challenge was introducing new layers of flavour inspired by Provence while remaining unmistakably The Glenlivet.” – The Glenlivet Cask Master Kevin Balmforth

 

After aging a dozen years, Provence Edition was “selectively” finished (meaning only a portion of the whisky) in casks from Château Sainte Marguerite, one of only 18 estates to hold the Cru Classé des Côtes de Provence designation, then blended with those finished in Rivesaltes and Sauternes casks. It is also the first time French white wine casks have been involved in The Glenlivet’s finishing process.

 

While Provence Edition doesn’t enjoy mass distribution, a 750mL, 40% ABV (80°) boxed package is available at stores throughout the United States for around $55.00.

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Speyside
• Distiller: The Glenlivet
• Age: 12 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Aged in both European and American oak casks, then finished in Provence Cru Classé wine casks
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $54.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to experience this whisky neat. Nothing on The Glenlivet’s website, bottle, or box suggests Provence Edition is naturally colored; however, it had a color reminiscent of honey. A fragile rim produced thicker, medium-spaced, slow tears.

 

Nose: I allowed Provence Edition to breathe for about 15 minutes, and while I waited, my whiskey library was filled with smells of honey and peaches. When I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled, I found more honey and peaches, along with apricots, white grapes, vanilla, and a floral quality. As I drew the air through my lips, I tasted lemon zest.

 

Palate: The Scotch offered a silky mouthfeel with a big punch of citrus. It made me raise an eyebrow and double-check the label for its proof. With the second sip, I discerned apricots, cooked peaches, and pears on the front. The mid-palate featured flavors of oak, torched coconut, and roasted almonds. The back included bold lemon zest, chocolate, and vanilla bean.   

 

Finish: Peaches, pears, apricots, and coconut competed with dry oak, black pepper, and almonds. The vanilla and chocolate from the back quickly vanished in a wake of citrus. As the fruit waned, chocolate made another round until everything fell off at 1:17, making it somewhere between medium and long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: As I alluded to in the nosing, The Glenlivet 12 Provence Edition doesn’t act like an 80° pour. I would have guessed it was an additional 8 to 10 points!

 

Overall, The Glenlivet offers consistent qualities across its expressions that seem unique to the distillery. Provence Edition doesn’t deviate from that; rather, it builds upon it. The citrus component isn’t shy but also isn’t overwhelming. I appreciated how the orchard fruits took center stage.

 

Provence Edition is a delightful, well-balanced Speyside Scotch with enough excitement to make it an attention-getter. Toss in its very affordable price, and I’m pleased to grant it my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.