Trader Joe's 1998 18 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I love Trader Joe's. My American friends laugh at me, because it is an unexciting part of their neighbourhood scenery. For me, it's a destination whenever I cross the border. While on a trip to California, I was shocked to see liquor on their shelves (rules vary state to state) including Trader Joe's Speyside Single Malt Scotch. This 18 year old whisky was distilled in 1998 and matured in oak casks (...and is one bottle amongst 500 produced cases). Its nose smells of the oak cask and candied orange. Later, floral honey and vanilla join in. My first sip brings a sudden heatwave that subsides at the pace it arrives. I find this scotch savoury like saltines and a bit oily, carrying oak and a hint of citrus with it. It has a fairly short, dry finish with an air of peat and cereal. This whisky is not that complicated, but for the price point, would be easy to sip when you're not craving a "fancy" bottle. I think this would be even better on ice. 7.25/10