I didn’t plan on starting here for this next distillery run… I think the first HP I had was the new (current) 18 some five or six years ago. Way before I knew what I was doing, even though I still don’t know what I’m doing now. I have since had the 12 (taste #86), the 25 (taste #51) and Valknut (taste #92; thank you @cascode). I have always been drawn to HP, I think a combination of excellent marketing and the unique heather laden peat have captured me. So, I decided I needed to do a deep dive on whatever I could get my hands on. Ten 30 ml tastings, a bottle of an Australian exclusive, and then tonight… an unexpected generous share from a newly broken bottle. The 15 and 18 to come next, but for tonight; 10. N: Very soft, delicate and inviting. A little toffee or honey lace the malty-biscuity background. Really quite sublime herbal smoke and dried fruit influence add a heap of character and interest. P: Slightly oily to every so slightly earthy. Perhaps a slightest touch thin but delivers really good flavours. A pear juice fullness carries everything and keeps things slightly refreshing against a little cereal and merest suggestion of time in sherry casks. In the mix we have a well balanced and maritime influenced smoke and glazed ham. Not complex but, delivers everything you want for this price point. Although saying that, I just found that floral touch of heathery peat, and it’s just great. F: Medium. Oily with a salty bite. Herbal and slightly menthol or minty on a deep breath. There is also a late and short-lived arrival of pepper. I was expecting this to be good, and I was not disappointed. There is no great complexity or mystery to this. It’s relatively young but old enough to not be rough or harsh. Perhaps the slightly earthy texture I found is a sign of the younger spirit, but it’s not a problem. There is less honey on the nose and palate than the 12 with a lesser spice profile and an absence of both chocolatey and citrus notes. But I don’t mind at all. What I wanted, HP floral-herbaceous smoke and a notion of BBQ meat (glazed ham in this case), was found. It may be bottom shelf HP, but i’d still be very happy to add it to all my shelves. To be honest I wouldn’t choose between the 10 and the 12. For all their similarity they are very different whiskies that showcase different elements of the HP maturation story. I can get behind both in equal measure. I may be over generous in my score here but the smoke profile elevates this slightly more than the next score down in my books. A great start to my coming HP journey. Also at <80 AUD, this is a steal. [For all you rock fans, no rock with this pour as it wasn’t imbibed in the comfort of my rock room, sorry] Distiller whisky taste #132 HP Running ranking (mostly for my benefit): 10: 3.75 12: 4 25: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25