750mL bottle purchased on 11/16/16 for $140. 43% ABV, chill-filtered, no added color. I’ve enjoyed this one for 7 months, and will probably finish it finally this weekend, and will be looking for another bottle shortly thereafter. I wouldn’t give it a 99 like Distiller did, but I will say 99% of people who try this whisky will like it. It’s got top shelf smoothness, balance of all flavors, and a silky luxurious mouthfeel. I last tried this side-by-side with my $47 bottle of HP 12, initially claiming they might be about the same caliber. After one nose, I laughed. “Uh, nope.” The initial nose was similar, but HP 18 is just so much stronger and more confident. I get the sweetness dominating with toffee, caramel, cream, figs, vanilla, dark fruits. I’m used to Islay peat, so there’s not much smoke for me. Orcadian peat just complements the sweetness with an earthy, heathery, mushroom-y nose. The palate is a slow crescendo. Nothing explosive, but complex flavors slowly build. Everything is well-rounded, silky, and in balance. Oak, honey, and sherry balanced with the heathery spirit character. The finish is what really separates HP 18 from the 12. This one coats the mouth with an oily spice with just a touch of smoke that lasts for a good 10-15 minutes. I can best describe it as chorizo oil. None of the bitterness that comes with the 12 is present here. The flaws in HP 18 is that it is not very distinctive and suffers from not having enough ABV. Don’t try adding water to this. If this is a 99, than the HP 25 would have to be 100, right? I’m giving this one 91/100.