Glen Garioch 12 Year

A good whisky that I think is hurt by a couple factors beyond its control: one, that it's just another of a number of heavily sherried whiskies widely available at this age and price range (Aberlour, GlenDronach, Glenfarclas, etc., etc.,), and two, that it's outhustled by its cheaper, younger sibling, the Glen Garioch Founders' Reserve (a whisky I find much more singular and much more interesting than the 12, though also very different in terms of its flavour profile). Flavour here is a big wave of floral--heather, lavender, dandelion--over a base of pears in syrup. Spicy. Malty. Red berries. More fresh fruit over time. Vanilla, brown sugar, some earthy notes. Add to that some hints of creme brulee and nuttiness on the taste. Nice stuff, but not something I find myself returning to frequently.