A pour of WhistlePig 18 Year Old has the look of polished copper, verging on light amber. The swish and coat leaves a few tears with substantial heads on them.The scent is gingerbread, drizzled with a rich, dark and fruity syrup. This is accented by hints of oak and pepper, plus a light touch of vanilla. The flavor follows in much the same vein, with a delicate mouthfeel and a finely tuned balance of sweetness and spiciness. The finish opens on vanilla and concludes with fading spicy wood. Overall, it’s just a marvelous sipper: approachable, superbly balanced and just sophisticated enough to make it interesting.