The Glenturret 12 Year Old is the annual sherried release that sits at the heart of the distillery's reinvented range. Under the guidance of whisky maker Bob Dalgarno and the stewardship of the Lalique group, what was once a tourist-distillery curiosity has become a source of genuinely interesting whisky. The 12 Year Old is where that transformation is most evident.
Matured in American and European oak casks seasoned with oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry, and bottled at 46.4% without chill filtration, the 12 is a step up from the Triple Wood in both intensity and complexity. The sherry influence is more pronounced, the oak more confident, and the distillery's fruity, malty spirit has had time to develop real depth.
The nose is rich and sherried: dried fruit warmed by ginger and cinnamon, layers of vanilla, hints of dark chocolate, and berry compote. The palate delivers on that promise — cinnamon and oak setting striking accents alongside dark berries, dark chocolate, and an inviting graininess that adds warmth, with vanilla providing a subtle creamy sweetness.
The finish is medium-long, with gentle wood spices and a lingering chocolate-berry note. The interplay between spicy oak and fruity acidity, supported by a creamy mouthfeel, makes it a whisky that rewards slow sipping. Scotland's oldest distillery is in the best form of its long life.
