Appearance: I compared this scotch to its 12 year old sister, and this one is a bit darker; the color is a burnished bronze. The legs for this one are thin and oily. Nose: Compared to the 12, this scotch is less harsh and richer. The nose is fruity with notes of plum, pear, red apple, dark cherry candy, banana flavored Laffy Taffy, as well as other notes like grass, the slightest hint of salty brine and peat, and this is going to sound crazy, but I also got a passing whiff of Cheetos! Taste: The taste is smoother than the 12 and more rounded and fruity too. There are delicious notes of honey, sour green apple, salted caramel, pineapple, and like the nose, the slight touch of briney peat. Finish: The finish is not as “spikey” as the 12’s finish, and is medium to long lasting in length. Thoughts: So I compared this scotch to the Glenlivet 12, which is a whisky I really like, but I do have to say, this dram takes the cake. It is comparatively more rounded and flavorful and that French oak really does impart a lot of fruity nuance into the scotch. I would buy this again, and I think this would be a good whisky to compliment a Thanksgiving meal. Yum! Glenlivet, you do good work, thanks again! Sláinte!