H 2 H The OB 18's HP18 v Talisker 18

Related whiskies : Talisker 18 Years Old

by **dramtastic** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:43 am

I know these 2 whisky's are held in high regard not just here but by whisky lovers everywhere. Well, at least one or the other is by most individuals. Which would you choose, as The Highlander says, "There Can Only Be One".

My choice the Tali 18, complex and balanced, one of the worlds great malts.

by **jhershauer** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:59 am

Wow, that's a tough one! I've been drinking HP 18 a lot lately, and it's a fantastic all around dram. Not the best in any one category (to me), but no real weaknesses. On the other hand, the Tali 18 is easily one of my favorites. Wonderful peat, and the pepper finish that starts easy, then builds up.

I'll have to do a head-to-head tomorrow night before voting.

Jeff

by **borgom** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:10 pm

Talisker for me too, but only just. I'd probably reach for the Tali more often but would enjoy them equally depending upon my mood.

by **jazz lover** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:26 pm

Depends on my mood.
Both excellent.

by **talisker10** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:48 pm

As much as I love Talisker 10, the 18 takes a little too much of the Talisker pepper out, yet isn't as complex as the Talisker 175th. Also thanks to Diageo I don't know if I will ever be able to buy T18 again. I got the last bottle at my local Spec's several months ago and have not seen it anywhere since, even online..even Binny's doesn't have it.

Going with the HP 18, just as complex as the T18 but with a little more kick.

by **jazz lover** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:06 pm

Tali 10 I live in Houston and will
trade a bottle of Tali 18.

by **Ganga** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:53 pm

One of the clearest - for me - choicest in these HTH pairings. Talisker 18.

by **jhershauer** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:19 pm

Really? T18 less complex than 175th? That wasn't my impression.

Now I'll have to include 175th in my H2H tonight. :-)

Jeff

talisker10 wrote:As much as I love Talisker 10, the 18 takes a little too much of the Talisker pepper out, yet isn't as complex as the Talisker 175th. Also thanks to Diageo I don't know if I will ever be able to buy T18 again. I got the last bottle at my local Spec's several months ago and have not seen it anywhere since, even online..even Binny's doesn't have it.

Going with the HP 18, just as complex as the T18 but with a little more kick.

by **Ganga** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:52 pm

I agree with you Jeff. And I've done 'em HTH. As a matter of fact, it was a flight of Tali which included:

Talisker 10
Talisker DE
Talisker 175th
Talisker 18
OMC Tactical 20 (sherry)

18 was the winner hands down. Subtle yet complex. I can see some of the complexity being lost to individuals as it just lightly plays along the palate.

by **Willie JJ** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:55 pm

It's the Tali for me too. No one is owning up to voting for HP although it's doing pretty well. It is a fine dram too.

by **jhershauer** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:53 am

Ok, I did a H 2 H tonight, and I have to concede that the 175th is an excellent dram, and better than I thought from my first tasting. It introduces a sherry component that is very nice, but I think the sherry also takes away from the earthy peat that I love so much on the nose of the Tali 18. I also think the palate is a little more mellow with the 175th.

Fortunately, the peat comes through on the finish for both Taliskers.

For me, I'd almost have to call it a draw, with preference depending on mood.

Jeff

jhershauer wrote:Really? T18 less complex than 175th? That wasn't my impression.

Now I'll have to include 175th in my H2H tonight.

Jeff

talisker10 wrote:As much as I love Talisker 10, the 18 takes a little too much of the Talisker pepper out, yet isn't as complex as the Talisker 175th. Also thanks to Diageo I don't know if I will ever be able to buy T18 again. I got the last bottle at my local Spec's several months ago and have not seen it anywhere since, even online..even Binny's doesn't have it.

Going with the HP 18, just as complex as the T18 but with a little more kick.

by **jhershauer** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:21 am

Man, I suck...did a direct comparison tonight and still don't have an answer. I guess I fail.

The Talisker has a sweet, earthy peat that, combined with the pepper finish, is different from any other whisky. Some nights, it's going to win out against anything.

I still love the HP 18, though. Great sherry/bourbon combo. Rich mouth feel, and still provides a hint of peat. Don't see myself ever getting tired of this.

I'm taking both of my whiskies and going home. You can stay here and play with your poll. :wink:

Jeff

jhershauer wrote:Wow, that's a tough one! I've been drinking HP 18 a lot lately, and it's a fantastic all around dram. Not the best in any one category (to me), but no real weaknesses. On the other hand, the Tali 18 is easily one of my favorites. Wonderful peat, and the pepper finish that starts easy, then builds up.

I'll have to do a head-to-head tomorrow night before voting.

Jeff

by **galg** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:38 pm

i like the Talisker better. it's more spicy, and goes amazingly with a dark chocolate of 70% and higher.
adorable.

by **The Third Dram** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:58 pm

Talisker 18YO at the wire... For me, a simply amazing melding of the intrinsic characteristics of the distillery make with a sense of greater civility and sophistication.

by **Swedish Chef** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:34 pm

Talisker 18. When you could still get it here it was priced exactly the same as the HP18 but was (to me) a better dram. I do love the HP as an alrounder but the talisker is just superb if you like peat. Second favourite whisky I've ever had.

by **MoreDalmore** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:49 pm

I won't vote yet in this poll but my bottle of Talisker 18 is waiting on me and before the weekend I will buy my second Highland Park 18 so I will be doing a H2H soon!!

I'll keep you informed on my findings....

by **jhershauer** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 7:32 am

I know I've posted well over my allotment of comments on this poll, but I finally voted. Talisker 18.

While the HP 18 is an excellent whisky with no real faults. I've decided that I'm going to miss my Tali 18 when it's gone more than I would miss HP 18 if they stopped producing it.

There's just something unique and special about the pepper and peat in the Talisker. Hopefully the Tali 18 shortage is temporary.

Cheers,
Jeff

by **dlh11** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 4:37 pm

The choice here is between wonderful and fabulous. I am a beginning whisky drinker, but have had the good fortune of buying and tasting each of these fantastic malts. Both are unique and I agree that I would prefer one over the other depending on my mood.
However, having said all that, I have to vote for the Tali 18. It's truly a volcano in a glass, and has so many different elements depending on what part of my palate I roll it over. But this win is by a nose.
Hey, does anyone really know why Tali 18 isn't around anymore? It was nearly impossible to find a bottle here in the USA. But they list the 18 on the Tali web site.
David

by **MoreDalmore** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:42 pm

Small update on my H2H!

I am now about half way through both bottles but I still can't decide which one I like the best.

I was expecting to like the HP clearly but now I'm not so sure anymore!!
Both are wonderful though..

More later.

by **MoreDalmore** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:32 pm

Welll; in the end I ended up voting for the Highland Park 18 because I am still somewhat of a sweet tooth and I like it just a bit more.

But the Talisker 18 is a very complex and fine dram which entered my top 10!

I'll do a poll myself in the near future about my new top 10 as there are quite some changes the past 2 months.

Related whiskies : Talisker 18 Years Old

H 2 H The OB 18's HP18 v Talisker 18

H 2 H The OB 18's HP18 v Talisker 18

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