Top Shelf Scotch - Highland Park 18 VS 15?

[Alden]

I'm considering investing some of my 'hard earned cash' into a bottle of HP.

Is there a huge difference in the flavor of the 18 vs the 15? What is your opinion?

There is a huge difference in price. About $50.00 here.

[squire]

Alden I've had the 12 and 18 and did not find the 18 to worth the substantially higher price. Can't speak for the 15 though.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Alden I've had the 12 and 18 and did not find the 18 to worth the substantially higher price. Can't speak for the 15 though.

I enjoyed the 18 much more than the 12....and the 25 was the best whisky I have had to date. The 15 I have not tried.

[Alden]

Alden I've had the 12 and 18 and did not find the 18 to worth the substantially higher price. Can't speak for the 15 though.

Yes, the 12 is quite affordable.

I enjoyed the 18 much more than the 12....and the 25 was the best whisky I have had to date. The 15 I have not tried.

Well, there you go, conflicting opinions.

Need some more opinions on this, please.

[Alden]

Also, is this one heavy on the peat?

I really don't like a heavily peated scotch.

[portwood]

Highland Park is not heavy on the peat. (On a scale from 0-9 with 9 being ultimate smoke think 3-4 compared to Laphroaig at 7-8. Though different animals, think Johnnie Walker black label. )

The key difference between the 12, 15, and 18 year old expressions is the cask selection. The 12 and 18 use a relatively high proportion of European oak ex-sherry casks, whereas the 15 uses high proportion of American oak ex-sherry casks. The two different types of oak (robur vs alba respectively) contribute some different characteristics to the whisky

Edited April 26, 2013 by portwood

[squire]

Oh I certainly enjoyed the 18 just addressing the question of value and didn't find the 18 worth the difference.

Highland Park is not as heavily peated as the Islay whiskys but it is definitely in the Northern Highland style, it is in fact the most Northerly located distillery in Scotland I believe. They've been in business since 1798 and know how to make whisky. My tastes run toward Speyside malts and if you also favor them HP is perhaps one you should taste before buying.

[Alden]

I'm very partial to Scapa, which comes from the Orkney Islands. I thought that was the northernmost distillery.

[HighInTheMtns]

I'm very partial to Scapa, which comes from the Orkney Islands. I thought that was the northernmost distillery.

HP is on Orkney as well, and slightly further north.

[Alden]

HP is on Orkney as well, and slightly further north.

Oh so they are both from Orkney. For such small islands they sure make some fine whisky.

[Brisko]

I have had the 15 and it is (by design) drier and smokier than the 12 or the 18. All of HP is lightly peated but there is so much heather in the peat that it comes across very gentle and sweet. Nothing like the Islays.

The 15 is what I would call a narrow profile (others might say "one dimensional"). If you like the flavor of heather honey with a tinge of smoke, it is a winner. If you like a more complex profile then either the 12 or the 18 are solid choices. Both have the smoky honey but are also more floral and fruity. Both are very good IMO and worth what they cost. The 12 in particular is a usually a great value at around $40.

[Alden]

Thanks Brisko.

I plan to hunt down and capture a bottle of the 12 sometime later this week, if the opportunity aligns with the moon and the stars, as I hope it will.

[Yeti]

I'm eager to hear a contrary opinion, but I can't think of a whisky distillery where I wouldn't recommend starting with a "middle" option before the older.

Macallan? Maybe, but that's not as direct a comparison. Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, HP, Farclas, Fiddich, Glendronach, Aberlour, etc etc, I would recommend starting with the 10, 12, 15, 16 releases before the 17, 18, 21 releases.

[ChainWhip]

Have not had the 15 yet but have had the 12 & 18 - will likely pick up a bottle of the 15 and try it out as I just had the 18 last night.

HP is more highly peated than most people realize: 35-40 PPM from what I remember. I'm under the impression that it doesn't taste like Islay peated malts due to the difference in the organic makeup of the Orcadian peat.

Edited April 30, 2013 by ChainWhip

[Wryguy]

The Whisky Advocate recently had the following posted on their blog, from Lew Bryson's recent trip across the pond, discussing the maltings and phenol levels of Highland Park:

"Highland Park does floor malting of about 20% of its malt, and smokes it all with Orkney peat to between 35 and 50 ppm of phenols. The local peat is unique, and densely layered with heather. We went out to the peat cuttings the following day, and could see heather roots right down to the 5,000 year level. The other 80% of the malt is unpeated and is bought in. The 80/20 blend is the same in all mashing, and yields the familiarly gentle peat character of Highland Park, with a phenol level of about 2 ppm in the spirit."

Also, It should be noted that the 15 year expression is the one used in the Thor and Loki bottlings from Highland Park. I don't claim to understand the significance of this, but seems to be worth noting, maybe a indication of what they think their best juice is. Or maybe it's what they know they can market the best.

[ChainWhip]

Thanks for the clarification wryguy - didn't know they also used unpeated malt for 80% of the Mashbill.

[Alden]

Thanks for the clarification wryguy - didn't know they also used unpeated malt for 80% of the Mashbill.

[Yeti]

HP is not a heavily peated malt by the standards of those whiskies who hang their hat on such things. It does have some smoke and earthiness as part of the profile, but it is much more rounded and integrated than those whiskies you're most likely thinking of. It is a northern highland malt, and a benchmark one at that. You should definitely enjoy a glass and find out how it suits you. Standard boilerplate answer, I know. But everyone with an affinity for malt should definitely try HP.

[Brisko]

So, does HP have a very heavy peat flavor or not? I'm confused now.

I'm not crazy about a scotch with a lot of heavy peat in it. That why I like J&B, Scapa, Balvenie... not much peat in those at all.

It's more of a heathery smokiness. I don't think you'll find it offensive.

[Wryguy]

So, does HP have a very heavy peat flavor or not? I'm confused now.

I'm not crazy about a scotch with a lot of heavy peat in it. That why I like J&B, Scapa, Balvenie... not much peat in those at all.

Alden, to my palate HP is not really very peated at all, and it is not one of the single malts that comes to mind when I am looking for peat.

While by no means exhaustive, or entirely accurate, the following link lists some heavily peated single malts, with relative phenol levels in ppm, or parts per million, the unit used to indicate peatiness of the whisky, or something. Note that all on this list come in at well over 20 ppm, which is ten times more peated than the HP.

http://www.squidoo.com/smokey-scotch

[ChainWhip]

Alden-

The HP12 & HP18 I've tried did not have the typical Islay peatiness as exemplified by the likes of Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, et. al. It does have a pleasant honeyed smokiness that is very well balanced. I went back and did some more digging and even though some of the malt used by Highland Park is peated to 35-40ppm, the resultant new make is about 2ppm (need more supporting references for backup, but here's one for now):

http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/02/peat.html

In short the answer is "NO", HP does not have the Islay peaty flavor profile.

[EDIT] - Please ignore my initial post regarding peating levels as that was an incomplete picture of the mashbill.

Also, this is slightly OT but found some interesting videos about Orkney Peat put out by Highland Park:

Edited April 30, 2013 by ChainWhip

[weller_tex]

When you enter the world of single malts you have to realign your value radar since it is so much more expensive than bourbon and rye, at least here in the U.S. HP I would agree is not heavily peated at all, but it does have a smoky character. I actually find the nose of Knob Creek Single Barrel to be reminiscent of HP 18..

In my opinion HP 18 is in another league than the 15 or 12, it is heavenly stuff. Now whether it is worth the difference is up to you and your pocket book. About twice a year I splurge and get a bottle.

[Alden]

Thanks guys. Smoky honey heather sounds heavenly.

I will try a bottle of the 12. Maybe later I will move on to the 18, we'll see how the money goes.

[Alden]

This is a pretty good primer for single malts for a beginner.

http://www.squidoo.com/Malt-Whisky-Buyers-Guide

[Jono]

I have only had the 12 so I can't speak to the question....you might consider these reviews:

http://whiskyreviews.blogspot.com/search?q=highland+park