If the 12 is the teenager, the 15 the grown up beauty, then this is the pageant winner. Tasting beside the 12 and 15 you know this is another Glenfiddich expression. The fruit notes and malt are well rounded, the sherry influence comes across as ripe dates, and the oak spice has become akin to Christmas cookies spice. This is thicker in the mouth, though not at that oily stage some malts display. My current bottle is 86 proof, but drinks as easily as an 80. Trying a couple drops of water this becomes a little different--but very good and elegant. The spice is less intense and the ripe date flavor is lessened, but the sweet malt is much more clear. Really very good. This is not the best 18 I have ever sampled, but it is in the ballpark. If this was $50 rather than $100 it would be a regular purchase for me.