Honestly presented at 46.3% ABV, non-chill-filtered, with no coloring added. Color is gold, and the viscosity is medium to high. Nose is delicate, almost shy, with hints of pepper, vanilla, and barley. The arrival is sharp, rich, almost a bit too concentrated. More pepper, citrus, chocolate, and raisins on the palate, and the finish is a bit bitter and drying, probably the consequence of decent ABV. A half teaspoon of water brings this to life. It is now rich with fruit (banana and orange perhaps, along with raisins), chocolate, and nuts. The finish is still bitter, although now with more honey and citrus notes. Some more water, but the character remains the same. The finish gains faint smokiness I remember liking in the 12-year-old. Overall, this is a solid, complex, and honestly presented dram, but in my opinion it underdelivers compared with its 12-year-old cousin. When compared side by side, I actually pick the 12-year-old instead of the 18. There’s more going on, it’s more interesting, and the flavor profile is more complex despite younger age. The 18-year needs more water and time to show its character, but even then I still prefer the 12. Would I buy this again for $125 compared with the $53 for the 12-year-old? At more than 2-fold price difference, I doubt it.