Visual: In the glass it is a deep gold. Long, thin legs after a swirl. They linger for a while. Nose: The 45.8% ABV is not readily apparent. The first nosing reminds me of holiday cider enjoyed next to a crackling fire: apples and nutmeg with faint, fragrant smoke. Nosing deeper pulls in darker aromas of charred wood, old wooden building, and a waft of pine needles. The nose is not as medicinal as the 10-year expression. Palate: The palate comes on sweet and salty, with malty sweetness followed by some sea spray and mild iodine. A little bit of kettle popcorn comes through mid-palate. Finish: Much like its younger brother, the 10-year, the 18 finishes long, warm, and satisfying, with some salt and lingering mild medicinal notes. The empty glass smells like a bowl of candied nuts on a varnished table in a library full of old books – with coffee brewing down the hall. In my opinion, it does not present quite as spectacular a sensory experience as the 10-year does. I think the time in the barrel tamed it a bit and perhaps took a little of the fun out of it...That said, it is an excellent whisky, and still comforting to the senses. It just isn’t quite as intense as the 10. Still a five-star dram for sure.