I recently reviewed an old bottle of the Glenlivet 12. Like that one, this bears the old packaging, so it's at least a year old if not older. Not that I expect much batch variation with something with this level of production. Early in my drinking days, I considered this a really high-end drink. With a few more years under my belt, let's see if that holds. Nose: Classic Glenlivet. Granny Smith apple, pear, apricot, green grape, peach, and plum. Some zesty orange and lemon citrus can be found as well. Sweet notes such as honey, toffee, and vanilla. Some raisin poking around in the background. Floral, malty, and oak notes. Nice start. Palate: Surprisingly full-bodied for 40% ABV. Vanilla, toffee, malt, cream, honey, frosting, and marshmallow. Now the apple is a combination of Granny Smith and Gala. Pear, green grape, raisin, plum, and apricot, along with lemon and orange peel. Coconut and pineapple. The natural fruity sweetness is a complimented with artificial sweet notes of Jelly Beans, which I actually quite like here. A hint of almond, along with some strong cinnamon and oak notes. Solid palate. Finish: Short. Doesn't hold up to the nose and palate. Almond, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. It's a step up from the 12. Much better than the 14. It boasts an exceptionally clean nose and a tasty palate to match. On the other hand, the finish suffers from low ABV. Further, the VFM has depreciated rather quickly. I used to be able to get this for $60 flat. I got this one for $73, and that's the cheapest I can find. And given the old-style packaging, I'm going to assume it's a pre-tariff adjustment. Personally, I think that's asking a lot. Still--I'm a fan of what I've got here. I'd love to try this at 43--or maybe even 46%, but I know that'll never happen. All things considered, I like it. Definitely recommended for a beginner looking to jump up a price point or two.