Note - I'm doing the Really Good Whisky Company Advent Calendar. I've also decided to pour these whiskeys "blind" (or at least as blind as I can), then providing nose, palate, and finish notes. I'll then look at the label, proof, cask type, etc. before writing my other notes. I'll be providing some guesses around things like proof and cask type and then seeing how much I missed the mark. Slàinte Mhath! Nose: Classic malt character. Floral, citric. Some tea also intertwined. Honey and toasted grain. Subtle herbal qualities. Is this a Highland? Almost getting lemon-lime soda vibes. Not getting a strong new make funk here - at the top end of around 10-15 years maybe? Ex-bourbon casks? Maybe some virgin oak as well? Just catching a thread of sweet vanilla and super-ripe apricots. Not getting any grain whisky here so guessing single malt. Overall, bright character on the nose. Almost prickly. Around 50% ABV? Palate will help nail this down. Palate: Bitey - there's definitely new oak in here, or re-charred. Or maybe there's just good age on this. Lemon pepper. Herbal, honeyed. Dashes of vanilla, char, and cocoa powder. Black licorice and pineapple. Some tannic structure, but this is very bright and shiny overall without much foundational sweetness to hold everything else up. Feels a little unbalanced. Light mouthfeel. Finish: Ethanol, oak, and bite. Menthol, cocoa, and dusty leather. Lemon oils get spritzed over everything, followed by some bitterness. Finish ends with white pepper, mint, menthol, and oak. Long. Other notes: I kept questioning if I was getting barrel bite or high abv and I'm glad I was leaning into the oak angle. For being so aged, however, I'm surprised by how "young" this presents. Not necessarily in a bad way, just with a lot more brightness and fight than I would've expected. I was off on ABV (though not by much!), under on age (too much of a range), and I'm not giving myself the cask type either. I did get region and mash. Not bad for tonight - especially since I'm feeling a little under the weather! This one is... interesting. It's goiod - the lack of balance isn't a bad thing in this case. This just doesn't fit within my normal profile. Still a fun one to explore, especially given how that 18 years presents here. Not bad. Cheers!