Dewar's 18 Year

N: Cola, sweet and dark red cherries, peach and pear, dried peat (but no smoke), caramel, vanilla, bread pudding with maybe a faint chocolate drizzle. Tried different glasses for this one (above is rocks with one ice cube, my normal preference as I like to see how a dram opens as it both warms and waters). Glencairn reveals some interesting characteristics: bacon and then s'mores - like, fully cooked, right off the campfire, not the component parts. I still don't get actual smoke, just smoked things. Very intriguing. Neat glass is a disappointment - fruit is more pronounced, but nothing is really added. P: Creamy, smooth and rich. Vanilla creme and/or custard, dark red fruit, hints of chocolate, and (yeah) Graham crackers (there's the s'mores, minus the smoke). Little corner hits of caramel and sea salt. A little woodsy and bitter at the start of the finish, then moves spicy. Spice doesn't seem to have a taste per se, just lingering heat (like capsaicin). The tannins and bitterness stick around, but at acceptable, maybe even pleasant, levels. Over time, there's more chocolate on the finish, but it's less pronounced than on the 15 year. (Also, no real difference on the palate between glass types.) Bought this thinking intentionally to compare it to the 15 year that I reviewed a few weeks back. Thought that was a great blend for the money and a substantial step up from the 12. This, however, is really more just different from the 15, not inherently better. This is, no doubt, subtler and perhaps more nuanced, particularly in the nose, but the overall experience is probably not worth the extra 10 bucks - unless you really like packaging that feels fancy, but is still cheap plastic and cardboard. This bottle has that in spades - overly large box with a side slide opening and a heavier, more ornate bottle. Tossed the box immediately and have no intention of keeping the bottle. Begin rant: (Actually, there's a hint of pretension (and waste) in all that that kinda annoys me, now that I think of it. It's all designed to be kept after drinking as some special prize, but it's a widely available $50 blended scotch, man! If you're keeping this for the display case... Never mind. I don't keep any bottles. Pictures of half empties are good enough for me.) End rant.

I received a bottle of 12/15/18 for Xmas and after reviewing (and enjoying) the 12/15 tonight we tuck into the most senior of the bunch. The nose is much more decadent then expected, aromas of fresh bread and cherries, followed quickly by citrus zest and malted cereal and baking spices. It really is Christmas dessert in a glass. The palate does not deliver the sweetness that I was expecting from the nose, instead offering up more of the grain up front, then quickly changing to bittersweet baking chocolate and then rolls into vanilla with a few of those spices from the nose showing up. Rather thin and somewhat flat. Not much of a finish, in fact not really even sure there’s enough to mention one. A little disappointed in the palate after such a great nose. After trying the 3 expressions in a row, it seems the added years in the barrel have mellowed things out a little too much for my liking. The 12 and the 15 were just lively enough to make them a bit more interesting, but since this was a gift, it will absolutely be enjoyed.

I had higher hopes for this as I liked the 15 year. The nose is quite great. Fresh berries and apricots. The palate has none of that and is slightly peaty but feels disjointed. It has a musty quality that doesn’t sit right with me. The finish is short and a bit oaky and swampy. The peat in this isn’t heavy but it just isn’t very good. I liked the 15 year way better maybe because it isn’t peated. I will have to revisit. Overall I feel like this just doesn’t know what it wants to be. It’s not horrible just not great at all. Cheers!

Last of the 3, when tasting the 12, 15, and 18 back to back. Nose is honey and a herbal quality that I can't quite nail down. Palate has a distinct lemon peel note I didn't notice in the 12 or 15 and of course vanilla. A bit of dulce de leche but on the lighter side. Finish reminds me of black tea. Overall, the quality jump between the 12 and 15 is higher than the 15 to 18 in my opinion. But still a decent sip for 80 proof blended scotch.

Letting this sit for 6 months in a 7/8th full bottle improved it immensely. The turpentine and astringent notes from the first tasting are gone. This is a subtle and delicate whiskey. The honey and floral notes on the nose are complemented now by some cereal grains, the palate is silky, oily and coating with malt and heather, the finish is long, smokey and warming.

After trying the regular 12 year in a sparsely stocked hotel bar. I went searching for a bottle of 12 year Dewar's. All I could find was this 18 year old. Upon first blush... It wasn't the light touch 12 year old I was looking for and I was disappointed. But eventually I came to appreciate for what it is. A superb richer blend full of nuance and flavor.