#WhiskyBattle between highly complex, full-bodied, light to medium-peated 18 year-old scotch whiskies - both at 43% ABV. #Bowmore18 vs. #HighlandPark18. Reviewed on 7/1/2018. ....…......….…........................................................................... 1) NOSE: a) Bowmore 18: campfire wood, apple pie, stewed citrus. Great nose. 91/100 b) Highland Park 18: salted caramel, pineapple, dark chocolate, fresh apples, and sea smoke. Very complex. 94/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 2) PALATE: a) Bowmore 18: dark chocolate, sweet BBQ, and creamy caramel. It turns soft and mellow as it runs in your mouth. 92/100 b) Highland Park 18: sweet and tart citrus, toffee, espresso, dark chocolate, and gentle sweet smoke. Like Bowmore 18, a sip of Highland Park 18 becomes mellow as it dances in your mouth, but it’s even more mouthwatering and pleasant than its rival. 96/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 3) FINISH: Both drams offer a long and complex finish, but Highland Park 18 offers so much more...sweet sherry and light smoke dance around your tongue long after it’s over. Bowmore 18 gets a 90 and HP 18 gets a 96. ....…......….…........................................................................... 4) OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Bowmore 18 is a nice blend of sherry and peat...it gets a 91. Highland Park 18 is so much more and unlike anything in its price range; it’s a near-perfect whisky and gets a 95/100. ....…......….…........................................................................... 5) VFM: Both #Bowmore 18 and #HighlandPark 18 are solid values at $120, but I recommend #HighlandPark18 more because it’s the best whisky you can taste at that price. #HP18 has #naturalcolor, but both are chill-filtered. If HP18 had a higher ABV (46% or higher) and non-chill filtered, I think it can earn a score of 97 or higher. ....…......….…........................................................................... @bowmoredistillery @highlandparkofficial #scotch #whisky #whiskyreview