Aberlour 16yr Double Cask:
Now we're talking! Sherry sweetness on the tip of the tongue, with a nice cinnamon spice in the back. This whisky is much smoother than the 10yr, and even smoother than the 12yr with a flavor a little less robust than the 12yr, but very refined. This was a fantastic whisky, with a great finish, sending sweet honey notes up on the finish along with a good bit of spice. Very nice...
Aberlour 18yr Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky:
SMOOOOOOOOTH! This whisky slips over the palate and down the pipe, delivering sweet honey notes on the tip of the tongue. The finish is wonderful, with a little less spice than the 16yr, but with plenty of wonderful sweet aromas at the end. After tasting this whisky, the 16yr actually seemed rough!
If you enjoy the 12yr, the 16yr is a wonderful treat. However, the 18yr just takes you to new heights. It really is a masterfully crafted whisky. I would not have been surprised if many in the shop would not have been able to tell the difference between the 16yr and 18yr, but to my surprise, every one of them could, commenting that the 18yr was incredibly smooth. Now, this was not a blind taste test, so they could have been BS-ing me. But after tasting these whiskies, I believe them. The 18yr is just really that good.