Auchentoshan 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 Good nose,but the palate is a little too dry.

Auchentoshan 18 Years Old, Oloroso
Single Malt - Scotland - 55.80% 7 An underrated malt. Check it out.

Auchentoshan 1978, 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.80% 8 This seems to me the definitive light tasting (triple-distilled) Lowlander. In theory, such whiskies mature young, but this has aged beautifully.

Berry's Own Selection Rosebank 1990
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 A teasing early freshness is the overture to a richer, modestly structured, conclusion.

Cadenhead's Dumbarton (Inverleven Stills) 18 Years Old
Single Grain - Scotland - 57.90% 8 A great delicacy but the strength needs to be put down by a good dash of water. But it is not enough to cut all the edges off.

Caol Ila 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 The most vegetal and assertive of the three expressions. Lots of contribution from the wood.

Caol Ila 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 2 Oak seems to have “digested” peat. The smokiness is restrained on nose as well on palate but surprisingly comes back on the finish.

Chieftain's Choice Bladnoch 18 Years Old Sherry Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 A distinguished expression of sweet Oloroso, even if it seems a bit ostentatious on the palate. For afterdinner enjoyment.

Chieftain's Choice Littlemill 1984, 18 Years Old Rum finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 I have always rated Littlemill more highly than most tasters do, but stocks are getting past their best.

Chivas Regal 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 8 A bit overbalanced by sherry, but nicely rounded by the smoky finish.

Chivas Regal 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% Has richness, but is always also being pulled up adding a top layer of fragrance. Loses the impact with water, so I'd have it neat or with one rock.

Chivas Regal 18 Years Old Gold Signature
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 9 This jewel is bursting with life and joie de vivre, like a bright aromatic rainbow. Want a wee refill?

Clan Campbell Legendary, 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 8 With a light, fragrant cigar?

Dewar Rattray Highland Park 18 Years Old 1989
Single Malt - Scotland - 53.50% 7 Couldn't be more different from the other Highland Park. That's casks for you!

Dewar's 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 43.00% Clean, unctuous and ripe. Seamless.

Dewar's Founder's Reserve 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Attractive nose but a wee more restrained palate than expected.

Elijah Craig 18 Years Old
Bourbon - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 Very urbane.

Fuji Sanroku 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 The complexity of the nose is not reflected on the palate. But the clean dryness makes it refreshing and enjoyable.

Fujigotenba 18 Years Old, Single Malt
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 I like its balance and elegance. Again in a cognac style like a mature X. O. from 'fins bois terroir'.

Gibson's Finest 18 Years Old
Blended - Canada - 40.00% 8 Appetising, Very enjoyable.

Glenfarclas 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 ?Polite, lightweight and won't swear at the dinner table.

Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1993 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.70% 7 The wood has given this a distinct dryness, but water really helps to unlock its true potential.

Glenfiddich 18 Years Old, Ancient Reserve
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Scores points for sophistication and sherry character.

Glenmorangie 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 While the middle brother in this range seems best to capture the Glenmorangie house character, this older version is a richer whisky. I could like them equally, according to my mood.

Glenmorangie 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 The second of Morangie's twin peaks

Glenturret 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Liqueur-ish. With dessert?

Gordon & MacPhail 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 The best Benromach I have tasted. I wonder what she should expect in a few years from the new stillhouse.

Grand Old Parr 18 Years Old, Classic
Blended Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 Is this a vatted malt? Glendullan-plus?

Grant's 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% Clearly the 12 Years Old's bigger and darker brother.

Greenore 18 Years Old
Single Grain - Republic of Ireland - 46.00% 8 A very stylish grain which is showing grip and character rather than just getting sweeter and flabbier with age.

Hakushu 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 Less sweet and fruity on the palate than the nose led you to expect. The balance is not there. Water makes it more bitter.

Hakushu 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 A colourful character, lively and dancing on nose and palate.

Hakushu 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 Another lighter one which only gets going in the middle of the mouth.

Highland Park 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 9 If I smoked I would have a cigar with this one.

Jameson 18 Years Old
Blended - Ireland - 40.00% 8 Even after 18 years, the pot still refuses to be mastered by the wood. Very drinkable.

Jameson 18 Years Old Master Selection
Blended - Ireland - 40.00% 9 Robustly sexy. I always enjoy Jameson, but I really relished coming to grips with this one.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% Unctuous and smooth.

Johnnie Walker Platinum 18 years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Though I miss Gold at this age statement this is a worthy replacement with a little more overt Walker characteristics: smoke and a sherried grip.

Kilbeggan 18 Years Old
Blended - Republic of Ireland - 40.00% 7 18 years already? Cooley continues to show its quality.

Kirin 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 Pretty, light in body, with the smoky/savoury element providing interest.

Kirin 18 Years Old, Fuji-Sanroku
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 8 For those who like cider rather sour than sweet! interesting combination for a whisky cooler. A refreshing aperitif.

Laphroaig 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 48.00% 8 Not the big phenolic guy but a very refreshing islander. Smoke is well integrated and the aromatic display is elegant.

Littlemill 1984, 18 Years Old, Chieftain's Choice
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 The rum finish is very sympathetic towards the natural flavours of Littlemill, but the combination never quite delivers what it promises.

Mannochmore 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.90% 7 The nose lets you expect more sweetness. Oak is overwhelming on the palate.

Master of Malt Ardbeg 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.30% 8 ?Try describing ‘Islay' to someone who has never visited before. If they still don't get it, give them a dram of this.

Oban 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 Harmonious as a water colour. A full display of soft flavours. A lovely springtime whisky to enjoy with red fruit.

Old Malt Cask Brora 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 8 More Islay-like than its Clynelish brothers. Was this some of the last made with highly peated malt?

Old Malt Cask Bruichladdich, 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 7 Aniceand pleasant summer dram. With the right amountof fruit. Five a day ?

Old Malt Cask Director's Tactical Selection, 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 8 This has it all but goes about it in an unflashy manner. Good.

Old Malt Cask Glenlivet, 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 7 A delicious dram. As pleasant a s a walk in an orchard on a sunny autumn day. Crisp,fresh and sunny

Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 7 This has balance. Like it.

Old Malt Cask Longmorn, 19 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00% 7 A nice dram but a bit thin. Easy to forget.

Old Masters Glen Garioch 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 53.90% 8 A rich aromatic profile and a soft texture give that whisky a sensuous feel. The perfect afterdinner dram to enjoy a moment of calm and of solitude maybe…

Old Masters Glen Garioch 1988, 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 53.90% 7 A big warming dram whose generosity of flavour comes as a relief after a couple of meanies.

Old Pulteney 18 Years Old, Sherrywood, Cask 1498
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.90% 8 I hope the new owners value this distillery. Its location, stillhouse design and – most important – its whisky, bring something special to the far north.

Rare Auld Cragganmore 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 55.30% 8 Deep and rich. The sherry has overwhelmed the distillery character. But a beautiful oaky expression. And a characterful profile.

Sazerac 18 Years Old
Rye - U.S.A. - 45.00% 7 Great balance between the sour and the sweet.

Sazerac 18 Years Old
Single Grain - U.S.A. - 45.00% 9 A superb bourbon. As neat and perfectly dressed and combed as Richard Paterson!

Sazerac 18 Years Old
Rye - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 A big, rye experience.

Sazerac 18 Years Old
Rye - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 Another Rye Whiskey ? The nose is a bit dour but the palate is more balanced. An interesting character.

Sazerac 18 Years Old Bottled Fall 2007
Rye - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 More of a sipper than a cocktail rye.

Sazerac 18 Years Old Straight Rye
Rye - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 A trifle sophisticated for my tastes, but a very fine rye whiskey.

Springbank 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 Abelter. Highly recommended.

Talisker 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 45.80% 9 Loch Harport on a winter's day, gale force eight! Less peppery than younger versions. Complex, endearing, balanced. 18 seems a perfect age for malts.

The Glenlivet Guardians Single Cask 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 55.70% 8 Quite restrained but with real elegance and charm.

The Glenronach Allardice 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 8 Deep,layered and sweet with great balance. Seek it out.

The Macallan 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 9 A lovely whisky in its own right, but not quite as layered as the best vintages.

The Macallan 18 Years Old, Fine Oak
Single Malt - Scotland - 0.00% 8 A lovely, elegant yet large whisky. Why would you ever use sherry wood?

The Macallan 1979 18 Years Old, Gran Reserva
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 9 Strictly for lovers of powerfully oaked whiskies.

The Whisky Exchange Bowmore 18 Years Old 1993 The Whisky Exchange Masterpieces
Single Malt - Scotland - 61.60% 8 That whisky needs a dash of water to cut the edges. Clean, big with that wonderful exotic fruit character that some Bowmore proudly display.

Tomatin 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 6 Lacks balance.

Tomatin 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 The nose is appealing but the sherry makes the palate a bit dour. Would certainly warm you up on a frosty morning.

Van Winkle Family Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 18 Years Old
Bourbon - U.S.A. - 52.60% 7 The wisdom of the ages is locked in there somewhere, but it is hard to penetrate the wood.

Wemyss Vintage Malts Flowers of Scotland 1991 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 Wemyss manage to produce highly quaffable bottlings. This is good but just lacks the cohesion that would elevate it to a higher level.

Whyte & Mackay 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 8 More backbone. Slightly haughty, but clubbable.

Whyte & Mackay 18 Years Old, Founders Reserve
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 7 A well balanced dram. Rather shy and restrained at start but with time and a drop of water, becomes more attractive.

William Grant's 18 Years Old
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 7 The nose lets us expect some exotic promises. Did too much dilution blow all that galore off? Disappointing.

William Grant's 18 Years Old, Deluxe Blend
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Leans toward peat-smoke, but beautifully composed. Luxurious. With a cigar?

Wiser's 18 Years Old
Blended - Canada - 40.00% 8 A well integrated combination of fruit and oak. A dram for uplifting hikers back from a wet walk.

Yamazaki 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 7 Big flavours, and a lot happening, but could be rounder.

Yamazaki 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 8 Well-balanced. Full of flavour.

Yamazaki 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 43.00% 8 Surprisingly, water tones the oaky flavours down, bringing out more malty sweetness. Quite a self-indulgent dram.

Yamazaki 1990 Sherry Butt
Single Malt - Japan - 61.00% 7 For the big sherried lovers.

Yoichi 1991 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Japan - 58.00% 7 A warm but rich character. Water tames it a little. Some like it hot !