Highland Park 12 Year

OK so I haven't had the much vaunted 18. I wanted to get my bearings on this unique Orcadian whisky distiller before I step on the ice with an 18 year old Wayne Gretzky. Having recently purchased David Broom's Atlas of Whiskey I was mostly excited to see the difference between the more typical Islay peat found in Laphroaig and countless others versus this Orkney exclusive Hobbister Moor peat. I can certainly see a difference. While I have enjoyed very much the Lagavulins and Taliskers I have had this stuff is definitely different. It is certainly sweeter and has lovely creamy mouthfeel with a medium to long finish. A warm but not hot experience. Smoke is, for me anyway, perfectly balanced and perhaps the Hobbister peat gives it the earthy taste of green vegetation that I find. This is the defining moment or characteristic here, that earthiness that's like the Brian May solo in a Queen tune; the defining moment and yet a perfectly assimilated part of the whole. It smoothes out the smoke a tiny bit and is an open door for a noob like me to stroll right through. Just wonderful, very solid value vs the Talisker 10 of comparable quality. I can only imagine what the 18 is like. I'm going to take my time with this bottle and besides what's the rush this scotch whisky is no stepping stone. 94/100.

It's just not good enough considering the other options at the same price point

An unusually gentle scotch that has only subtle hints of the smoke and brine that make so many of its peers a challenge for some drinkers. Its malty richness makes it a great compromise pour for a group split on whether or not to have scotch at all.