Review #754 - Cadenhead's Glen Elgin-Glenlivet 12 Year
The story of distilleries other than Glenlivet using 'Glenlivet' in their names dates back to the 1800s, when the actual Glenlivet distillery earned a good reputation that became synonymous with Speyside whiskies. A number of other distilleries piggybacked off of this reputation by adding 'Glenlivet' to their own names, either on their branding, or even on their official registration documents. The practice has largely gone out of style, but a few bottlers like Cadenhead's continue to name their whiskies with this method for the sake of tradition.
This 12 year batched single malt comes from Glen Elgin, and it was distilled in 2012. Cadenhead's says that Glen Elgin has a long fermentation time and uses clear wort during distillation, which contributes to a natural fruity character in their whisky. This spirit, which first spent about 10 years aging in ex-bourbon casks, was finished for about 2 years in Palo Cortado sherry casks; that could add to that fruity profile.
Bottling took place in May 2025 for this member of Cadenhead's Original Collection, and like most whiskies released by this indie, the bottling strength is 46% ABV.
Cadenhead's Glen Elgin-Glenlivet 12 Year
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Price: USD 89 (2026)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks, finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled 2012, bottled May 2025
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 50%, 90%, and 60% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Musty, malty, with fruits like grape, prune, and seedy acidic prune. The sherry has a relatively strong yet dry influence; tart apples, tannic grape skin, and tart orange come next. The malt has a slightly vegetal side; hints of wood funk and sour stone fruit build.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness. Oaky, funky, savory or a little bit meaty to start, but then strong fruits of sour orange, fizzy apple, and blackcurrant arrive. Spiced caramel and some chocolatey malt come next, as well as honey and brown sugar. There are a few tannins, and it drinks warm for its strength.
Finish: Cinnamon and drying oak tannins are dominant to start this finish. Mandarin orange, blood orange, and some dark grapes bring that fruit side back, and we get subtle sharp citrus and hints of molasses. There's still a soft savory side in the background, possibly hinting at this distillery's use of worm tubs in the distillation process. The finish is medium in length.
Final Note: This is a good, interesting example of Glen Elgin. The fruity notes from both the spirit and the Palo Cortado casks are on full display, and to us, they seemed to take on a strong sour form instead of the usual sweet fruits.
It was never the most prominent flavor, but the savory, lightly funky note that we found in the background throughout the experience added a lot of character, though it definitely made the dram more challenging. This is one you can dive into with some time, but it might not be our favorite for 'every day' sipping - more of a mood whisky.
Value is about average; some Cadenhead's bottles like this are on the more reasonably priced end of the independent bottling spectrum. The flavor is good, the price is fair - this is a nice pickup.
Our Rating: 7.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.27
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
