Glenlivet 12 vs Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

🥃 🥃 For those who don't know, I have 20+ years experience in the wine business dealing with American and European Oak. American Oak (Quercus Alba) and European Oak (Quercus Robur) have distinctive characteristics. If you mature Tempranillo (such as Rioja) or Cabernet in it you can tell the difference between the two types of oak. But you are only tasting one layer of flavor (fermented grapes) added to the oak. Now, when you then age malt spirit in the cask you add another layer of flavor which is intermingled with the layer of Port, Madeira, Sherry, Bourbon, or numerous other red wines that remain imbedded in the oak. The distinguishable differences of the oak that remain will be subtle if any. In addition, producers in the Scotch whisky industry often refer to a sherry cask as "European oak" because sherry is from a European country even though the sherry was actually aged in AN AMERICAN OAK CASK! As I said in the video, AMERICAN OAK is the traditional oak for aging sherry and other Spanish wines. So, you can have a Scotch whisky aged in "American Oak" that is an ex-bourbon cask and a "European Oak" that is an ex-sherry cask made from AMERICAN OAK! Unless you are maturing a Scotch whisky in NEW American Oak (Quercus Alba) or European Oak (Quercus Robur) that had NO previous contents, telling me it was aged in American Oak and European Oak without telling me the previous contents (Port, Madeira, Sherry, Bourbon, or numerous other red wines) is near useless information. 🥃 🥃

[@keegan1728]

Erik don’t ever change. I for one so much appreciated your “rant” at the beginning. These things don’t just need to be said, they need to be said in such a way as to get the attention of the producers so they will stop taking us for fools and see us as the informed customers that we are. Cheers from Canada.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks!

[@haromaster6086]

If I could find either one of these for $35 in my area, I’d be thrilled but they’ve moved up to $50 and sometimes $54 a bottle at all the stores I pop into, it worth that imo.

[@joshclark1047]

@@haromaster6086 came here to say this. Both are around $55 in my area

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Brilliant Erik this is the first head to head most Scotch drinkers do I believe. Love the 'angry Erik' in the beginning too :) Ps. Jack Diddly is now in my vocabulary 😃

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Much appreciated!

[@steveamsp]

Solid comparison. There's definitely a reason these two are kind of the standard starting point for Single Malts, and why any bar that has any kind of whisk(e)y selection at all will have at least one of the two on the shelf all the time.

[@geofre44]

These whiskies are stripped of their own unique characteristics in order to make them average. They know their market and do it well but most Scotch enthusiasts obviously have moved on. Great review! (I loved the rant btw)

[@cristianosouza-zi9yn]

Very good Erik!!! Glenfiddich 12 excelente!!! Cristiano, Brasil!

[@mauriciopacheco7987]

what can I say?.... I love it! just full transparency... we take our whisky passion above the limit and it is what it is. Kudos Erik, 200% with you. Cheers 🥃!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I appreciate that!

[@michaeljz8886]

I am wondering if the European oak casks are the casks the previously used to finish their 15 yr. Also, previous contents might not matter so much if they are 3rd fill casks.

[@ramunassileika5735]

Thanks for your opinion on those whiskeys jus to add if any of you deciding which bottle to get here is my take, bought both whiskeys about 7 years ago i still have that same bottle of glenfiddich 12 half full where glenlivet12 been replaced about 10 times glenfiddich is maybe good for nose dipping but not the actual drinking

[@Koby616]

Glenfiddich has an awesome bottle design. It's nice whiskey if you don't want anything loud or peaty. Thanks for comparison 😊

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Totally agree!

[@Estanoesmicuebta]

Los dos son excelentes y la prueba es que son de los más vendidos,yo los reconozco a ciegas,creo que los maltas de Speyside son los más complejos y estratificados.❤

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

¡Gracias por ver mis videos! 🥃

[@marcwhiskey]

Thats an all time rant! Was not expecting that at all for these whiskies haha

[@hamo4558]

Interesting A/B Erik. I prefer the Glenfiddach too. How you've described the Glenlivet is spot on. I've never done an A/B with my 'cheapies' & its a great idea. I reckon the Glenlivet 12 v's Glenmorangie 10 would be interesting ( i might try that myself haha).

[@hamo4558]

So I since did that comparison. I had the Glenlivet first & essentially it killed the taste of the Glenmorangie after it ( the citrus was gone & it might as well have been a Grants lol).

[@FerNightwalker]

Upgraded channel... love the ranty videos, especially at the beginning!.. please Erik we need more whiskytubers exposing those vain marketing tag lines. Cheers! 💪🥃

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

and yet I got a bunch of thumbs down - LOL!

[@cliffnorman178]

Personally prefer the Glenfiddich. Thanks for yet another great comparison video.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for watching!

[@TraeLoria-f9x]

I am a Fiddick man through and through friend. The peppery deep flavors is where my pallet is at and the smoke is for me just right. What could you suggest to buy in it's place? I don't care for the Glenlivet for me is too much citrus and I feel the same for a 12yr McCallum, what could you suggest sir?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Have you ever tried Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky? It is bourbon/sherry cask, 46.6 % ABV, non-chilfiltered, natural color and is widely available.

[@bdwilcox]

To be honest, my annoyance with their labeling, filtration and coloring is tempered by the price. These are beginner whiskies that are gentle, welcoming and affordable. They don't need to be "pure" since a beginner wouldn't notice the difference anyway. They just need to be inviting with a non-intimidating price.

[@Richie.Z]

Love this video! Cheers, Erik🥃🥃

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bzzz1800]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies to be fair: Mac 12 triple cask and fiddich 12 are the best ones to introduce people to single malt world, giving credit where credit is due 🫡

[@ricardodelorenzo3954]

Epic rant! Also, imagine evaluating the colour on a whisky with e150 lmao

[@Ryan-dc6lj]

Yea, seriously :o

[@PierreMoisan-vf2ze]

Nice review Erik surprising concerning casks impact and Mcl…. theory I think cask has still an impact on color if no A150 is added (as you know not the same configuration ) but has you said the content of the cask is more important. I like that kind of challenge bravo!👍

[@_allcap]

Glenlivet 12 is a great value buy

[@urbnctrl]

Was happily suprised by the palette off glen livet!

[@thatoneguy454c]

Where are you getting those bottles for that cheap? I have a bottle of both and I think I paid 70 for the Glenlivet and 65 for the Glenfiddich

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Prices always vary in the USA. Most of these are from local shops in California.

[@enotrilogy]

The quintessential beginners battle. The oak rant cracked me up. Agreed on the content but wished you'd mentioned the general differences American Oak and European Oak have on their content. 😊

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

The difference between Quercus Alba (American) and Quercus Robur (European) are minor in comparison to the differences between the previous contents of the cask (bourbon, sherry, port, Madeira etc) so if the producer specifies the origin of the oak but not the previous contents it doesn’t mean jack diddly. It only makes a significant difference if the cask has had no previous contents.

[@enotrilogy]

@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies not minor on their effects of whiskey/whisky

[@khaldounsamman9128]

Interesting, I always thought European oak is slightly more peppery than American oak, no? Claiming color differences is probably BS, I agree especially in distillers that color their whiskey.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

If you mature Tempranillo in NEW American Oak (traditional Rioja) and NEW French Oak (modern Rioja) and compare the two you can definitely tell the difference. But once the cask has had something as influential in it as sherry I challenge ANY whisky professional to blind taste 6 single malts aged in sherry casks (3 American oak sherry casks and 3 European oak sherry casks) and tell me which is American and which is European, ESPECIALLY if the barley has been peated.

[@luisgarrido2166]

Objective data and subjective perception. That's what a head to head evaluation must have. Great vídeo!!!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danieldean2096]

If you want to have a decanter to offer someone a dram who’s not experienced with whiskey this is welcoming. For those with more experience keep the good stuff separate. Cheers

[@michaelhassler7446]

I knew the first nosing note you would say coming from the 'fiddich would be apple. A lot of people who don't like Scotch can kinda take a swig or two of Glenfiddich. It's like the Kool-Aid of Scotches.

[@mindman4217]

I guess its your area cause for me both of these are almost $70

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

The Glenlivet 12 750 ML is now $31.99 at my local store and the Glenfiddich 12 is $27.99 750 ML.

[@DanielShenton]

i work in a scotch distillery and can confirm e150 is made from barley

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for the comment! I think it is the process in which it is created that most people find disturbing.

[@michaelgonzalez347]

Great way to start off a video, lol. Frustrations are felt all around the whiskey community now. It's very simple, just place on the bottle non-chilled filter, natural color, more detail of the cask, not made up stories of a region. If every distillery used this simple method of labeling, then that would help us the consumer know what to look for when buying and know what we are getting or should be getting based off the label, not a buy it and find out method. That would work for $10.00 bottles not $65 and up bottles that we spend our hard earned money on.

[@amrindersidhu]

I buy glenfiddich just for the nice bottle design 😆

[@victormashangurara4645]

😂😂😂😂, love the rant

[@leanidis300]

So as a fan of both Scotch and Irish I'm now considering where to drink only 43% or above, what say you?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Have you tried anything peated? I highly recommend the Ardbeg 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. For unpeated, try Bunnahabhain 12 ear Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Slainte!

[@leanidis300]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Yes, I have had Ardbeg 10 it's fine tasting and affordable. never tried Bunnahabhain 12 yet .recently bought some Highland Park, Vikings Honour, was considering Dalemore 12 but, like I said think I prefer a little higher ABV %

[@CA_Scotty]

Enjoyed the rant. However… This is not a whisky marketed to the enthusiast.. This is a mass market project targeted for the cocktail glass. I was introduced to Whisky via Glenlivet 12 and most of it was in a Rusty Nail. Now I care about Non-Chill Filter, No Color Added, Higher ABV, types of casks and length of times is said casks, but when I started it was just whisky and went well with Drambui in the glass. When a company markets the product to the Luxury market and charges 150, 170, 200+ yet chill filters and adds color and states things like “American Oak” , then I am much more disgusted. For me, this does not apply to the Glenlivit 12, Glenfiddich 12 since they don’t pretend to be more than they are.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Every time I refer to these as "beginner whiskies" I get a complaint.

[@CA_Scotty]

Although it was my ‘Beginner’, I can see that it can appeal to someone who just wants a light pour on the rocks. It is a fair price, so I can’t be mad about that. It is also almost always at the bar, so if you want something and the bar selection is limited, they will almost always have a JW Black, Glenlivet 12, and/or the Glenfiddich 12. Finally, I always have a Glenlivet 12, Glenfiddich 15 (solera), Glenmorangie Lasanta and Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban on the shelf so that I can provide a lighter style with a variety of flavor to my guests that are not normal Scotch drinkers. Thanks again for the great reviews!

[@bzzz1800]

After discovering craft presented products from the related regions none s going to get back to these big companies stuff thats for sure.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

European oak is way more peppery. I don’t understand the rant. These are great beginner whiskies but a seasoned drinker has no reason to be around these ever.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

You can get pepper notes from numerous sources such as peat. I challenge you to identify the oak of two sherry cask aged whiskies, one aged in American and another aged in European oak, in a blind tasting.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies I could try. I would simply guess the one that has more "bite" on the tongue is the European oak, and I would either be right or I would be wrong. I agree they should tell us the content (or lack of there of in case of virgin oak) the barrel contained previously, I'm only arguing that, regardless if I have the ability to accurately differentiate one type of oak from the other based on taste, they do have particular traits. And coincidentally or not, my "spiciest" whiskies appear to be aged in European oak (although I have a few "spicy" ones that don't state anything). Thanks for taking the time to reply!!! Cheers!

[@kevinmahaley4916]

35? Mine is 60??

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Are you in Canada?

[@kevinmahaley4916]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies east coast USA

[@paribusiness3647]

they are from speyside and I know you know. So why?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

So why what? Speyside is a subregion of Highlands so unless it specifically states “Speyside” on the label I don’t reference it. Glenallachie and Glen Moray put “Speyside” on their labels, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich do not.

[@paribusiness3647]

Yes, of course the subregion but for scotch regulations they are in Speyside. @@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies

[@grantmitton6346]

"Lemon, Apple, Orange, Vanilla, Biscuit, Hints of Honey, Maltiness, Floral Notes, Apple and Pear, Baking Spices,..Etc,..Etc..Etc. Are YOU listening to this? Taste it,..DID YOU LIKE IT? Forget the Garbage about Pear, Honey, Apple, Crap enjoy or move on.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Congratulations! You've won my "Stupidest Comment of the Month" award! 🏆

[@ksing44]

For breakfast!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Not until I've first had my coffee. ☕

[@kyletelford2353]

Who is Jack diddly?😂

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Jill Diddly's brother

[@jr5406]

Calm down man, have a sip

[@Mike-vi2ct]

Rant! Let's hear the facts. Don't sugar coat anything

[@williambyington4864]

Chill dude, I worry about your heart.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

No worries dude, its just a little Whisky Drama to go with the Whisky Dram.

[@cookiebozo]

"Jack Diddly" is that a professional term?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

"Jack Diddly" is another way of saying "Jack 💩" without offending people.

[@cookiebozo]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies say Jack diddly again

[@urbnctrl]

@@cookiebozo it is i use it all the time during board meetings

[@IWillSayMyPeace]

What h H are you shouting for? Dang!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

WHAT? Can you speak up? I can't hear you?

[@IWillSayMyPeace]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies :) Good one.

[@edwardgleeson1358]

You had a few before you sterted. Löve You.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I am NOT as think as you drunk I am! 🥃