LeeEvolved
Highland Park 18 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 24, 2017 (edited January 18, 2020)
DISCLAIMER: The following review was written over a year ago (Aug 2016) when I first got my hands on HP 18. I didn’t write as thorough of reviews like I try to do these days. I wanted to import this to Distiller so I’d have some tasting notes to compare to the HP 25 that I’m currently enjoying. I hope you still enjoy this one...
Well, I've read a bunch of glowing reviews of this HP offering and they all say it's so close to perfection. Hell, Distiller gives it a 99/100 rating. So, going in I expected to have my mind blown.
First of all I will say it is hands down the best single malt from HP that I've had the pleasure of tasting. The nose is sweet fruits and honey with a subtle hint of peat smoke and when it hits your tongue it is velvety smooth. It's a joy to just gently swish it back and forth across the tongue and let the toffee and apple adsorb into your taste buds. The finish has one of the best balances between sweet heat and peat smoke (without being overpowered from either) that I've had without spending 4 figures on a bottle.
With prices still somewhere north of $120 it's not exactly on the cheap side, but it will hold its own with the aforementioned $1k bottles I've been lucky to try. I mean it's practically a bargain vs those big ticket bottles. If you see it on the shelf at your local watering hole and you can get a dram for around $20-30 I'd give it a swirl. It'll put a big smile on your face for sure. Highly recommended. Cheers, my friends.
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Amazing reviews. I’m going to spend time looking through all your tasting notes. Have you tried the latest bottling. I found a place selling for $120 and thinking about picking it up.
For me the 18 year is the sweet spot in their range. Old enough to be authoratitive, but still fresh and alert. Great review - nailed it.
Excellent review as usual mon frere. Get it while you can. HP18 is the most balanced bang for your buck, bar none.
Some day I'll open my bottle to taste this piece of artistry.
This is definitely on my list. I enjoyed a bottle HP 12 a few years ago.