The Loch Lomond 12 was one of my most pleasant surprises. That’s partly due to my low expectations for it, but even more so because it was actually very good. I’m hoping the extra 6 years makes this that much better. Like the 12, this is an older bottle from before they changed the packaging. Let’s get into it. Nose: The same fresh-baked croissant note I got in the 12. Hazelnut and toasted almond. Apple, pear, and apricot. Butterscotch, honey, toffee, malt, and vanilla. Honeydew, roasted pineapple, and lemon citrus. Graham cracker and sugar cookie. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Reviewing my notes from the 12, it’s almost identical, which is interesting, because I remember it being very different. The difference was the 12 was at the end of the bottle, and this is almost half full. I guess it just needed time to open up. Very good. Palate: A huge hit of grape jam. Apple, pear, apricot, and raisin. Dried cranberry. Hazelnut, toasted almond, and cashew. Vanilla, toffee, honey, butterscotch, and sugar cookie. Orange and milk and dark chocolate. Fudge. Honeydew. Buttered roll. Earthy smoke. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Toasted almond. Caramel, vanilla, toffee, malt, and butterscotch. Milk chocolate and orange citrus. Apple, pear, apricot, and raisin. Friend apricot and cranberry. Earthy smoke. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This is a worthy sequel to the 12-year. It’s a dirty malt. You could call it unrefined, but I’d prefer to call it brash. Traditional Highland malts are known to be clean, formal, and predictable. That formula works well to bring new Scotch drinkers into the fold and to establish brand loyalty with those uninterested in exploration. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this profile 10 years ago. But it’s hitting the mark now. It’s strong at every turn: nose, palate, and finish. At $85, for an 18-year at a respectable 46% ABV, you’d be hard-pressed to find a comparable buy. Not that it’s the best 18-year old out there, or that it’s the paradigm for a Highland malt or even that it’s the best sub-$100 bottle. But what it does do is neatly thread the needle between the bottles that hit these marks, carving out its own place on a whisky shelf. Unbelievable VFM. Unique profile. Well-executed malt. The coalescence of these features earn this a 4.75/5.