I was at a party on Friday where there was a bottle of Glenlivet in with the other beverages. I got the appropriate sized glass, poured a jigger, and gave it a sniff and taste - this 12-year-old scotch has a medicinal taste, none of the smoke and only some of the peat that I'm particularly fond of. It was okay, I didn't waste it, but not one I'd buy for myself.

A friend also tried it and in the next few minutes I could tell that he wasn't accustomed to Scotch, let alone neat - he added water to his to finish it. I have over the years learned a lot at Mudcat; one of those things was about single malt Scotch and how to drink it. :)

Bill, did you ever get over to the Total Wine store in your area? (I refer you to this "Question about Scotch" thread of Kendall's from several years ago.