I can't agree with "JJJ"'s reply. Just last week, I had the opportunity to sample a "shelf-aged" bottle of Glenfiddich - and the flavor and charactor was nothing like the bottle I have at home. This was a plain-jane bottle of Glenfiddich 12 - that has been sitting on a back shelf in my teetotaler in-law's pantry for maybe 15-20 years or so. The flavor was smooth as silk, with a nutty vanilla finish and even a bit of smoke thrown in. I'm not usually too fond of Glenfiddich - I prefer the stronger iodine bite of Laphroaig, or the smoky smoothness of Bowmore - but I believe the next time I visit the in-laws, I may swap them a fresh bottle of Glenfiddich for their "stale" one!