The Bowmore core line features a wide range of flavor profiles due to different finishing techniques, rather than merely relying on age to alter the nature of their scotches. Islay single malts invariably mellow out as they age, and this Bowmore is no exception. But, in addition to that effect from aging, the 15- and 18-year drams both feature longer sherry-cask aging. The unsherried 12-year old dram leans heavily on minerality and coppery notes, with minimal sweetness. The 18's combination of higher age and sherry finishing mellows out the peat smoke considerably. This may be the fruitiest Islay scotch I've tasted, with a nose full of berries and zesty melon. There is smoke, of course, but it's a distant or peripheral effect rather than front and center. The palate and finish continue playing with fruit flavors, including berries and perhaps even passion fruit or other tropical fruits at times, with the smoke giving the sensation of a Hawaiian barbecue. I'm missing some of the intensity I like from Islay scotches here. For those who like a gentler, fruitier scotch, but with a substantial smoke backbone, Bowmore 18 may be an ideal scotch for them. At $100-125, it's priced in the same range as most other 18-year old Islay scotches.