Served neat in a Glencairn glass, from a freshly opened full bottle. The nose is muted, which is surprising. No alcohol, and just the faintest hint of Sherry. Fruit is one of the better noses, it's just really hard to pick it up. Disappointing. On the pallate, the smoothness continues. No alcohol bite, just sweet Sherry goodness. However, where the A'Bunadh is turned up to "11", this is at. "6". More refined, for sure. But this should really be 46-48% ABV. This most certainly is not "big", in fact it is one of the more subtle Sherried whiskys around. More subtle than the Highland Park 18, even. From what is available, white peaches, plums, overripe apricot, Mandarin oranges, salted caramel latte, and Fiji apple custard. The oak starts to build toward the back of the pallate. The finish is ever so slightly spicy, and a little bitter, like 95% cacoa-covered pepper, with a dash of Washington cherry, and the oak really starts to come through a little stronger. This is unmistakably Aberlour. Heavily sherried, similar to the A'Bunadh, just more polished, with more oak, but less.....well, less of everything else. I don't mind dropping $$$$ on aged whisky, but I think the A'Bunadh is better, price be damned. The glenfarclas I had in a head-to-head had far more character, and of everything, really. Furthermore it did it with the same ABV. It's only downside was the alcohol burn, and it was slightly less complex. There are much better options for the money than the Aberlour 18. Not bad, just not near what it's cracked up to be, especially at the price.