Being a fan (or not) of Blue Label may lead one to wonder, "hey, is the 18 year very close to Blue?". At least those are the kind of meandering musings that percolate around in my somewhat rattly skull these days. Maybe we have the JW version of "poor mans pappy" for Blue Label masquerading with a 18year goldish label on it? Having sampled at least one version of each, Blair Athol, Cardhu and Glen Elgin I'm already intrigued with some fairly high expectations. Fresh off a Blue Label review this might be kismet like timing to take on the 18 year. Nose: sweet and fruity, a honey or meade sweet bread and fruits maybe more like peach are well forward. This really seems sweeter than Blue Label which carries much the same nose spectrum. Now for the real test. Wow, this is something, that peach syrup sugar is well accentuated by a hardy bitter nut center. That bitter carries through the finish and this most definitely ends the direct comparison to Blue Label, while it's not a terribly harsh bitter finish, more of a flail to the other side, it really shows how a blend variation can produce drastically differing results. The Blue Label continues that bread and honey circus right out the gate and will not be denied its namesake winning ribbon color "Blue". 18 year has more of a "hey IN YOUR FACE" coarse attitude as it shuffles off to the alley. Had the comparison ridden only on the nose the 18 looked like a potential winner but the Blue Label ends the ride in a far more refined finish. 18 year is like roaring into the driveway with a hopped up 400 V8 rattling under the hood of a Mustang Cobra while Blue Label is like coasting in, lights off in a convertible Caddie with under inflated tires and the top down on a July night. Both great in their own way but just not the same thing at all. Conclusion: Still a Blue Label fanboi all the way, but respect for 18 Year where it is due. Not a bad effort at all Johnnie. Cheers!