Glenlivet 18 Year Batch Reserve

Nose

Sweet and fruity, though not overly so. Dried apricots and some citrus (orange, but just the flesh) with a malty note. Sherry influence clearly evident. No ethanol present.

Palate

Thin mouthfeel. Sherry sweetness and some orange with a hint of some baking spices mid palate.

Finish

Very short, echoing the palate with sherry frutiness, malt and addition of some spice. A very light hint of vanilla on the back end of the finish.

Overall

This isn't bad, but it is a bit watery with the palate lacking any intensity and a finish that was just too short. I suppose at 40% that isn't too much of a surprise. I suspect the 43% version of this would have been a step up, though that seems to have been discontinued (I might try and get one to compare). This could be something good to introduce people to scotch, or to try if you're getting started out to figure out if you like speysides as it is straightforward and approachable. For me though, this isn't as robust as I like my whiskies to be and at $110 I probably wouldn't get again.