Balvenie 12 VS Highland Park 12

[Elagabalus]

Which do you prefer and why?

[Bullie]

I prefer the Doublewood in this case. Why? Well I find it a more complex whisky. But both whiskies are great.

[Quaichuser]

I am a big Doublewood fan. The colour, the aroma, the way it lasts on the palate. I even like the shape of the bottle.
I like the Highland Park but I love the Doublewood.

[Jon Barleycorn]

Doublewood is a lovely whisky, but I love the interplay of sweet and peaty notes in Highland Park. For me, it's the whisky that has everything, and the only one that inspires me to sigh blissfully when I take a sip.

[Les Paul]

HP 12 every time. I think the DoubleWood tastes like a cheap Macallan 12. But I'm young and life is long...so please don't throw any chairs at me.

[Deactivated Member]

Difficult, but I think I'd go for the Doublewood - but then again..............

[zhi]

I have not voted because I believe these two malts should not be polled in a two way race unless there was an award at stake and this would be the only way to find the winner.

I have always thought of Balvenie 12yo as a whisky to be enjoyed in the warmer months due to its distinct orange notes and being generally gentle and sophisticated. It is almost like a nice glass of orange juice with ice to quench the thirst and soothe the throat on a hot day. While Highland Park 12yo packs more of a punch with its higher peat content and warms my heart with the heather sweetness. May I say here it reminds me of a hot choclate on a cold night.

Basically, I believe they are some of the best whiskies to be had in different circumstances. Therefore, it is very hard for me to give a preference to one over the other.

[Mark]

I like both these whiskies, but if i had to choose between them i would select Highland Park before the Balvenie.

Mark

[irishwhiskeychaser]

HP without a doubt.... Far better flavour profile and not whimpy like the Balvenie

[Steve Rush]

It's the Doublewood for me. Some harsh thoughts on it above in my opinion.

[bamber]

HP 12yo by 1st round KO. Not a fan of the DW. The worst whisky Balvenie make IMO. Would not turn down a dram though

[MikeOrsini]

Hi Gents:
Mike here from Canada. I'm new to the SMS hobby but after buying some Laphroig QC, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Johnny Walker Black, Balvenie 10 & 12 and Highland Park 12, I can see what all the fuss is about!!! My favourite so far is the Laphroig QC...just and astounding taste and long finish. If I had to choose between Highland Park 12 and The Balvenie 12, I'd have to go with the Highland Park 12 as it seems to ave more depth, complexity, peatiness and is less sweeter IMHO. My next buy will be an Ardberg as I've heard great thing about it on this forum. Cheers!!

[les taylor]

Welcome to the forums Mike. Glad you've started your journey the QC is definetly a good dram to start with. I hope you enjoy your journey and your time here. By the way if you can try the HP18 it's a marvel.

[Reggaeblues]

HP 12 over here! just happen to be drinking one...

Yes, the 18 is marvellous and the 15 marginal...not QUITE there IMO.

...but the 12 is great! And never QUITE the same twice for some reason...but always the same elements in differring proportions...love the gentle saltyness and peat underlying the sweetness. some days, first sip reminds me of a Macallan. Other days of a gentle springbank...especially on the finish. for me much more going on than the DW...which I'd never refuse, but I just ain't shelled out for one, or felt inclined to, for yonks...

[jazz lover]

AND THE WINNER IS ?
HP 12 !!!

[Ganga]

Not much of a margin in preference. I like them both about equally. The Balvenie seems to blossom after it has been open a few months. Each has its own mood for me (not based on time of year).

Unfortunately, Balvenie DW and HP12 . I guess you know what that means.

[MikeOrsini]

Hi Les:
Thanks for your kind words. I think I've just discovered a new hobby with SMS. Learning about how the SMS's are made, the history and tradition behind them is almost as much fun as drinking them. I've never been much of a drinker but what I like about the SMS hobby is that it's not about getting smashed..... really it's about appreciating the finer things in life. Cheers!

[lincoln imp]

I am not even going to read the comments here.Highland Park everytime. The 12yr for me proves that you can consistantly buy a top notch single malt for£20-£25. The 18yr is even better. I do like Balvenie but the 10yr Founders Reserve is better than the doublewood .

[mattbuty]

I love HP. I have it on my chips.

[Di Blasi]

I prefer the Highland Park 12y, so much good whisky and characteristics to enjoy there. The Balvenie is also good, but I do prefer the Highland Park.

[Bastage]

I am debating, upon my death, having myself shrunken and pickled in a very large jar of HP12, 15 or 18. Unquestionably my fave all-around malt. Upon purchasing my first bottle of 12 I immediately proceeded, that evening, draining about 5 fingers off of it. It's a good thing for me that it's not an expensive one, because it took very little time for me to kill that 1st bottle. On the other hand, BV12, while respectable in most respects, is almost a copy of maybe 20+ other malts and just doesn't offer me anything that stands out. I enjoy drinking it, but it's nothing special to me. Straight up Spey. Just doesn't remotely assert the same character of the HP12.

[woodhill]

HP12 for me.
Doublewood is maybe one of my least favourite Balvenies.
I love the Founders, the Single Barrel and the Roasted malt.
Now I'm going to have to pour a DW to prove it to myself, so I may be back later with a revision,,,,

How was your DW?

[hook55]

Well I just finished my Balvenie DW last night and it was nice I think I prefer it more than Glennfiddich Solera Going to have the HP 12y.o. tonight so I will get back to you?

[Newbie]

Balvenie were giving away free samples of the 12yo Doublewood in Feb at participating restaurants in London. It might still be on so its worth asking.

At first the waiter had no idea so I had to ask a few times. But they did bring a dram for each person Also got a little card with tasting notes.

I was having a spicy Thai and the whisky just seem to magnify the spice and the heat and I couldn't really taste the whisky! So not a great first impression, but I may well buy the 10yo since its on offer at Sainsburys (see supermarket deals) and give Balvenie another try.

[Newbie]

C57 - you seem like a man with good taste so I will take you up on your recommendation of trying the Founders Reserve

[hook55]

well I had the HP 12y.o. tonight and it is so different to Balvenie HP is more spicy for me. I not good with tasting notes yet but the 2 whiskies are different and should be enjoyed when your in the mood for which ever you fancy at the time. I will buy both again.

[Willie JJ]

C57 - you seem like a man with good taste so I will take you up on your recommendation of trying the Founders Reserve

He is a man with good taste and I would agree with him that the Founder's Reserve is a splendid dram (hence affirming my own good taste ). The DW is fine too though. I wouldn't walk past either of them lying unattended on the bar.

[les taylor]

C57 - you seem like a man with good taste so I will take you up on your recommendation of trying the Founders Reserve

He is a man with good taste and I would agree with him that the Founder's Reserve is a splendid dram (hence affirming my own good taste ). The DW is fine too though. I wouldn't walk past either of them lying unattended on the bar.

Yes, I may go for the FR, but any Balvenie would be unsafe left alone in my company.
Do you think there's a Register for people like me?

Nick it's called the Balvenie Members Club. They'd love you.

[les taylor]

They already do Les!

I thought you probably had. I wonder how many of these distillery on line club things there are. Obviously they are used for emailing new products. I bet there are quite a few scattered about.

[Willie JJ]

Off the top of my head:

The Springbank Society
The Ardbeg Committee
The Jura Social Club
Friends of Laphroaig
Friends of the Classic Malts
The Scapa Crew (seems to have lapsed though)
Guardians of Glenlivet
Companions of Aberlour
Balvenie Member's Club
Highland Park's Inner Circle
The Arran Community

I'm sure I've missed several and lots of distilleries have newsletters like Glenfarclas, Old Pulteney, etc., etc.

[Willie JJ]

Yeah, the Scapa thing was a bit of a disappointment to me. I guess they can't keep the website up to date, but I like Scapa and thought it was a good idea.

[Willie JJ]

I particularly like the special bottlings thing especially if they are cheaper.

[Single Malt Kommunist]

I considered the question in the context: "if my last whisky would be either a Doublewood or HP 12...".
Clearly, the HP would be my last gulp.

But I also second the view that the Doublewood fits in better during the warmer months compared to HP.

[Elagabalus]

I just bought another bottle of Highland Park 12, and I like it more now than I used to.

[mikeymad]

HP 12 over the DW12 almost everytime.

Cheers,