18 Year olds

[MoreDalmore]

Over the past year i tasted a number of 18 year old malts and I wonder which one you like the best.

Also what would be your suggestion for my next 18 year old?

[bcrossan]

Try Macallan next

[daveski]

My personal favourite is the Caol Ila 18yo. I would strongly recommend it.

[johan brugge]

My wife got me a Caol Ila 18 (and a Bowmore 17) for our wedding anniversary 2 years ago. I liked it but I was not very fond of the citrus notes in the Caol Ila. I never bought a second bottle. I liked the Bowmore much better.

[Dubois]

I would go for Glenfiddich 18 Yrs...

[daveski]

My wife got me a Caol Ila 18 (and a Bowmore 17) for our wedding anniversary 2 years ago. I liked it but I was not very fond of the citrus notes in the Caol Ila. I never bought a second bottle. I liked the Bowmore much better.

Can't argue with that Johan, as I have never tried the Bowmore. Would love to at some stage though.

[johan brugge]

Why not a Yamazaki 18yo? Full of flavour.

[jhershauer]

Of the ones listed, HP 18 and Tali 18 are very close for me...depends on my mood.

For a next purchase, there are some great suggestions above. With the Mac 18, I would keep an eye out for a sale, as it seems to be a bit expensive normally. On the Caol Ila, what about getting a 200ml bottle of that to try? Some people, myself included, prefer the CI 12 to the CI 18.

As an Islay fan, my vote for your next one would be the new Laphroaig 18 year.

Jeff

[johan brugge]

I love 18 year olds! Its such a ripe age!

You're talkig about whisky, right?

[johan brugge]

Silly me.

[clicker7]

I voted for Talisker 18. It just edges out HP 18, which I also enjoy.

I love them both but find the Talisker 18 just a bit more interesting.

I like Macallan 18 a lot also; but I don't enjoy the price!

Joseph

[pkt77242]

I voted Talisker but it just as easily could have been the HP.

I think that you should try the Mac or Yamazaki next.
Though the new Glendronach 18yo would also be a nice choice.

Sean

[Wave]

Of your list I've tasted the Talisker, HP and Glenlivet and I would jump at the chance for the Aberlour 18. Talisker is by far my favorite those 3.


Cheers!

[Klas]

Highland Park for me

[MoreDalmore]

Thank you for the replies so far and the suggestions made!

The Yamazaki is on my wishlist already but it is out of my price range ( so is the Springbank ).

After reading tasting notes for the Port Askaig 17 I got interested in that one. That being from Caol Ila how does that compare to Caol Ila 18?

I also saw that Dalmore just released an 18 year old; I hope that fits my price range!!

[MacDeffe]

Of the listed I voted for the HP 18

If I could choose myself I would put the new Tomatin 18yr on top

That's an excellent dram

Macdeffe

[37degrees]

The Dalmore 18 is currently £76.99 at TWE.

What I don't get is that the 18 yo Signatory bottling anno 1990 is a lot cheaper despite it's a cask strength: £54.99.

Why is that so? Should MoreDalmore hurry up and get that one?

[The Third Dram]

It's interesting to see the Talisker just edging out the Highland Park at the precise point in time during which I voted, as this pretty much reflects my personal assessment of the worth of the whiskies listed.

The Highland Park is perfectly proportioned and absolutely delicious. The Talisker is, however, simply brilliant! (Coincidentally, I tasted the latter just last night, and came away every bit as impressed as I had been on prior occasions.)

[jazz lover]

Highland Park 18

[bcrossan]

Thank you for the replies so far and the suggestions made!

The Yamazaki is on my wishlist already but it is out of my price range ( so is the Springbank ).

After reading tasting notes for the Port Askaig 17 I got interested in that one. That being from Caol Ila how does that compare to Caol Ila 18?

I also saw that Dalmore just released an 18 year old; I hope that fits my price range!!

PA 17 is much better than the CI 18!

[dramtastic]

I voted for he Talisker.

I do like Caol Ila 18, smooth and smoky like a peated JW Blue. Would go well with a nice cigar.

Like some others have suggested, when you can afford it, try Yamazaki 18. Heck, try Yamazaki 12 if you haven't already.

[Ganga]

Talisker for me. Lots of good suggestions thus far. Here are a couple of others for you to ponder: Bunnahabhain 18, Bruichladdich XVIII.

[pmullin]

I kicked in with the Talisker as well, but it was a very close call. The HP 18 is right up there too.

IMHO, for many brands, the 18yo expressions are at the top of the heap. I have found that many of the 2X or 30 expressions are ok, but are often not as full-flavoured.

[Ras Mazunga]

Tried Aberlour 18, Talisker 18, HP 18, Yamazaki 18, Tomatin 18, Glendronach 18 and Glenfiddich 18.
The Glenfiddich 18 really disapointed me. A boring taste that never seemed to change. The Tomatin 18 seemed a little watery and thin to me. Only had a small sample and should try it again.
All the others I liked very much. The only one I have open at moment is the Talisker, a very special whisky imo. But I'm not sure if it is better than the HP 18 I had many years ago.
If I could choose one right now I would choose the Yamazaki 18 but that is because I only had a sample sofar.

[Ras Mazunga]

Forgot about the Macallan 18. It was ok but I like the 10yo cs much more.

[MoreDalmore]

There seems to be not much love for the Bowmore which makes we wonder how many of you tasted it.

I know it surprised me big time and I really love it more than the Highland Park. That wasn't the case after my first bottle of HP but the second one didn't exactly gave the same feeling. Still very good but I was missing some of the smoke I got from the first.

I will be buying another Bowmore later this month for my birthday and see it it will meet up with the first bottle.

[jimidrammer]

I voted for the Talisker 18 also and if the marketeers are watching this poll I'll be expecting it to double in price soon. The only others I've had from the list is the HP and Glenlivet. The HP18 seems to have lost consistency over the years. The Glenlivet 18 is ok but the new '91 Triumph Barley is a tad more interesting. Suggestions of strictly 18's would be similar to others: Bunnahabhain 18 is way above the 12. Caol Ila 18 is worth trying but I don't keep it around much anymore. Glenfiddich 18 is average, but uniquely oaked. Macallan 18 worth trying for it's special sherry character, but I wouldn't buy it again. I have an unopened Glenmorangie 18 so no comment yet. Same for the new Laphroaig which sounds great, but hitting a price point ceiling. 18 it seems is a key age for single malts and where the magic starts.

[Willie JJ]

Its a nice selection but I think the Talisker just wins it for me. Any of the others will do though.

[The Third Dram]

There seems to be not much love for the Bowmore which makes we wonder how many of you tasted it.

I'm still in the process of going through a bottle of this one. And while I admire its moment-to-moment dynamics as well as the manner in which its rich Sherry-derived characteristics play off the crisper seaside elements, I have to wonder if it's quite as well integrated and, for lack of a better term, 'exotic' as the previous 17-year old issue (at its best).

I will say, however, that my 18-year old appears to have 'come together' somewhat since the bottle was first opened. I see it as an excellent whisky overall.

But in comparison, the Talisker 18YO...

[Liechtenstein]

There seems to be not much love for the Bowmore which makes we wonder how many of you tasted it.

I will say, however, that my [Bowmore] 18-year old appears to have 'come together' somewhat since the bottle was first opened. I see it as an excellent whisky overall.

I hated my Bowmore 18 at first. In order to get rid of this $120 scotch, I would mix it with far cheaper stuff at first.

Then, about halfway through the bottle, I started liking it and drank the rest with much pleasure. So...I agree with the quote from The Third Dram above. I now miss my beloved Bowmore 18.

[Willie JJ]

It's an old hobby horse of mine Lichtenstein. I'm a great believer that you don't really know if you like a malt or not until you've finished a bottle.

[Swedish Chef]

Why not a Yamazaki 18yo? Full of flavour.

Opened my bottle yesterday, and I second Johan's suggestion.

[Willie JJ]

This is a real ding-dong battle between the two front runners. It is suroprising that the others haven't really entered into the fray because they are all fine malts.

[MoreDalmore]

This is a real ding-dong battle between the two front runners. It is suroprising that the others haven't really entered into the fray because they are all fine malts.

Perhaps this due to the fact that not too many people had the Aberlour or Auchentoshan...

I think the Aberlour especially could do much better when more people tried it.

[Willie JJ]

I agree but I thought the Glenlivet in particular would have had a following as it is fairly ubiquitous and incredibly good value (often less than £30 in the UK).