Nose: vanilla custard, fragrant musky wood like sandalwood, a little floral. I couldn’t discern any peat. Lighter and sweeter than I’ve come to expect from an island whisky. Palate: a lovely bit of flavour after the almost daintily sweet nose. Light but creamy body, malty, notes of cooking spice, black tea with lemon and honey. Finish: silky smooth, seeing the sweetness give way to the smoke I was promised. This is more pipe tobacco than peat smoke. Short but pleasing. Conclusion: I really like this whisky. In a word: satisfying. It’s not surprising that HP12 is recommended to those starting out in Scotch - it showcases a little bit of everything scotch whisky can offer, delivering sweetness, smokiness, fruitiness and even the barest hint of island brine, a varied palette that sets it above other recommended ‘beginner’ malts like The Glenlivet 12 or Glenfiddich 12. At its price point it’s an absolute steal, so although it’ll be a sorry day when I drain this bottle you can be sure I’ll be picking up another one soon after. Rating: 90