First time I've had this. Great buy at Costco and I couldn't resist for under $30. Warning, I'm a Dewar's fanboy, so no surprises on my reaction to this easy sipper. Tasted neat from a glencairn. The nose is sweet malt, fresh cosmic apples, and the slightest of floral notes that dance above a delicate barrel note. On the palate this is easy to sip. Dewar's 12 Double Aged is my house pour for cocktails like the Rob Roy, Bobby Burns, Penicillin and almost anything that uses scotch whisky, including the occasional Old Fashioned. I also love a wee dram over a coconut water ice cube when I'm just kicking back. I think this is a far more fulfilling drink in many ways. This is not a sherried scotch, but there's ample orchard fruit to be found in its spectrum. Apples, pears, apricots and muskmelon all make an appearance. Slight black pepper, soft vanilla, and sweet woody notes fill in the blanks. The finish is fast, clean and sweet. No peat smoke to be found... For the price, this is well above average. It's certainly not the best scotch I've had, but it'll do on any day that ends in a "y".