Highland Park 18

[sgsoloplayer]

Here is my mini review of the Highland Park 18. Take it or leave it, I'm a bit inebriated and quite an amateur.

Nose: Caramel and honey, very sweet smell. Floral notes and slight toffee smell. Little bit of oak as well.

Taste: Floral, leafy, oak overtones. Peat undertones as well as almond. Can also taste the caramel and honey, but not as strongly as the smell would suggest.

Finish: A bit salty and peppery. Nice and hot. Lots of oak in the finish. As a reviewer (I think MJ) said, nice and oily, very substantial.

Overall: Wonderful! My favorite (of the very little I have tried) for a daily drink. I definitely enjoy this for almost any mood or moment.

Again, I am an amateur, but I hope this review was decent, as it's my first. If you guys care to, please comment and tell me if you experienced some of the same things as I did, and how well I reviewed this scotch. Goodness I'm feeling quite warm and inebriated! I'll check back soon

[MGillespie]

Don't put yourself down...excellent tasting notes!

Mark

[Di Blasi]

I too like the Highland Park 18y, more than the 12y. I don't like that they add caramel, not that I can tell, but I do prefer natural whiskies. I think it's worth it, especially if you can get it for the better deal the others here have mentioned.

[ScotchPalate]

I got it, and it's great. Wow, it is sweet. I really enjoy the smoky dry finish. and NO PINENUTS!!!!!

[peergynt323]

Highland Park wins my award for Most Inconsistent in Online Tastings. It seems no one can agree what's in the nose.

IMHO, the 12yo is nothing special.

With the 18, I get different stuff at different times, among them smoke, sea salt, cedar, flowery highland character, malty sweetness (again reminiscent of other Highlanders).

This is not to say that it's not a great malt though. Very tasty. Reminds me of Christmas-time--like a very toned-down version of Anchor Christmas Ale if you've had it. The holy grail of my collection is my HP25, which has more of all that goodness.

[Lawrence]

Highland Park wins my award for Most Inconsistent in Online Tastings. It seems no one can agree what's in the nose.

Mayber there's simply so much going on that everybody is finding something different, it's quite complex. Just a thought.

[peergynt323]

I agree that it is complex--very complex.

I get citrus, wood and flowery perfume in the nose. Palate reveals malt, honey and seasalt. Finish is warm with vanilla and spice. Salty malt lingers.

I adore this one and I drink it for its mysterious complex character.

But here's what I mean (various notes from the internet):
...milk chocolate, cookie dough, leaf pile, plastic tarpaulin, beach bonfire...
...pipe ash, used pipe cleaners, rotting leaves, charred oak, wood stain, pecan...
...Leafy (vine leaves?), pine nuts...
...nuts, honey, cinnamon, dryish ginger...
...banana, pineapple, melon...
...Creamy, nutty, fruity (mirabelle, quince jelly). Lots of light toffee, cappuccino, Bailey’s (or rather like an Alexander). Lots of strong honey (chestnut, fir). Keeps developing on lavender creme, crystallised oranges, dates...

[philbert]

Hi FWIW here are my very quick thoughts on HP 18

Fabulous balance of honey, peat, leather, wood, toffee, a little heather, a hint of smoke ... chewable ever so slightly oily roll in the glass. Sublime.

I can't believe I picked this up for 57 bucks. I mean I don;t even want to tell anyone I bought it for that price, but well now you know.

This will have a place among my favorites. I rarely if ever pay mroe than $80 for a whiskey, and generally stick in the $36-$70 range -- so the 25 yr whiskeys I can;t talk about. As such HP 18 joins my other faves:

Talisker 18
Highland Park 18
Talisker 10
Clynelish 14
Oban 14
Caol Ila 12
Lagavullin 16