vPub Live - Best 12yo Malts for 2021

**Timestamps below**
For many, the 12 year-old bracket of age-stated malts is an entry point, yet once upon a time it was a mark of maturity. Despite my love of exploring different whiskies and styles and occasionally enjoying more mature releases, I have a generous selection of the standards on the shelf and I've been confident in my understanding of what's out there. That is, until recently. It seems that things change quickly.

When looking back to the last time I placed the top 5 list in a vPub of September 2018, there was a little less choice out there in the whisky landscape, and I have a suspicion that there were less "naturally presented" offerings on offer. It certainly feels like that. Today it's looking like there's a lot more to take in, and that's a good thing. A very good thing. So, through the lens of the old-standard 12 year old, let's see how much has changed in that list. Perhaps look at some of the (my!) better whiskies out there today, at what they cost and, if at all possible, let's bring a few surprises.

Would love to welcome you then.

Edit after broadcast: In summary, and I may or may not have managed to get the point across, to judge these whiskies all by the only common denominator they have - their age - is a bit of a nonsense. All are very, very different whiskies and while the age perhaps gives us some insight, each of these fulfils a different niche. Enter the surprise entry at the very end to illustrate. Again, 12yo age stated but capable of upending whiskies of even twice its age. Still, this topic served a nice way for me to meander through various malt-related topics while exploring some new releases along the way. Hope you enjoy!

Here's the link to the Whisky & Wisdom video I mention - The History of Scotch (to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire")    • The history of Scotch whisky  

Timestamps:

Thanks to Glasgow Whisky Club : 20:20

Intro to 12 yo Line-up : 23:55
Glenmorangie - why no 12yo? : 27:38
Excluded from this list : 35:45
Glenallachie 12 : 46:38
Tobermory 12 : 47:14

S4D promo - Mark from Scotch 4 Dummies : 50:50

Glen Garioch 12 : 1:05:14
Glenlivet Illicit Still : 1:10:00
Loch Lomond 12 The Open 2020 (Chardonnay Yeast) : 1:12:10

Changing the order & surprises : 1:17:05

Balblair 12 : 1:19:27
Benriach "The Twelve" 12 1:27:36
Glenturret 12 2020 Maiden Release : 1:36:09

Is it a Speyside - Alasdair Gray : 1:49:10
Is it a Speyside - Jimmy Leg : 2:00:41

Quiz at the End (Questions by Eric Cunliffe) : 2:15:28