Hi Jason, just a little feedback. I started watching your videos about four years ago. In the recent year or so it seems your videos slowed down, but I see your back, maybe thats just how youtube works. What I want to say to you is that I have become a little frustrated with some whisky you tubers. They have progressed their whisky journey at lights speed, and have moved to single cask, high end whiskies, something I can not relate to, I'm still enjoying regular core offerings from the whisky and bourbon world, I feel left behind and detached from much of their content now. However, you still provide videos on core range, affordable, easy to access whiskies, whiskies that I can relate to because I have bought them or plan to buy them, so thank you for bringing content that is still relevant to my whisky journey. All the very best Charlie
“Had some friends over” and that’s why it’s so low...riiiight. Great review and spot on about the need for oxygen. Actually I find the 12 also improves considerably over time. I even have a single cask 19 yo release, same story. Needed a couple months.
Been loving the 12 years, and have recently ordered an 18 years for a reasonable price, looking forward to trying it after an initial open, but I shall take on board your advice and leave it open for a week or two and see how it goes down after that.
I haven't had the 18, but I really like the 12. In fact, I bought a bottle of the 12-year-old Highland Park Viking Pride, and the more expensive 12-year-old The Macallan at the same time, and preffered the Highland Park.
I liked the Highland Park 18 when I tried it three years ago., but it seemed to be more hyped than what I got from the experience... Maybe I should have given it more of a chance and taken my time with it so that it could have opened up more? Maybe my experience was soured by the price? Maybe some day I will scare up the courage to get another bottle and take my sweet time with it.
It does receive a lot of hype and sometimes when we build up thoughts in our mind we expect so much. It does deliver in my opinion a flavor tapestry that is unlike any other single malt when you consider the peat and smoke and how they meld with the sherry notes. This is not a cheap malt is the problem. But, in general, a bottle you need to take your time with.
Nice review, Jason. I recently had the good fortune of finding a couple of bottles of the pre-viking themed HP 18 at a small independent liquor store. I'm guessing they are at least 5 years old. Comparing one of those to a recent purchase of the current HP 18 seems to show a definite drop in quality with the current whisky. I've let the newer whisky air out as you advise, but it's still not as good as the older bottling. The older whisky seems to have a greater complexity of flavors as well as better integration of all the flavors. It's not so sweet as the newer whisky and if I were to guess, I would say there's also a larger percentage of whisky aged beyond 18 years in the older spirit as it just has more depth to it. Agree about the pricing of this whisky, and while it's not quite as bad as where you're at (I paid $130.00 each for both old and new) I can remember when HP 18 was still "only" $85.00 about a decade ago. Probably never see that again!
Good review. Bought a bottle and have been waiting to try it over Zoom with a friend ont he other side of the country, but time zones keep messing us up. So, now employing your trick and giving it 20 minutes open.
Always interested in what u have to say + review : the HP18 had gone thru at LEAST 5 bottle rebranding(s) + repackaging since the mid-1980s . . . i have not bought a Park over 10 years, until today = tried HP cask strength in 2021 (in Ontario for 130 $CAD).
“Not the entertainer who needed a check up from the neck up” - not the first time I’ve heard you describe the singer Michael Jackson that way! Welp, Highland Park 18 is not sold in Pennsylvania stores and out of my price range elsewhere. But I’ll keep it in mind for the future, and I appreciate your perspective on HP’s NAS releases. I see those a lot and have my doubts. I can’t even bring myself to try a glass of Magnus at a bar - I’m curious, but would be embarrassed to order it. We still get the 12 at a reasonable price here, thank goodness. That oxidation tip reminds me of a local whiskey. Don’t know if you’re aware, but Dad’s Hat is a widely-acclaimed brand of PA rye with scattered availability. I had the Port Cask finish at bars and found it delightfully supple, sweet yet well-balanced, but for years I couldn’t find a bottle when I wanted one. I finally got a bottle and it was AGGRESSIVE...until it had been open for a few weeks. I look forward to your Naked Grouse review, as I’ve had mixed experiences with that whisky...
I have had two bottles of the 25 year in the past and while good, well very good, it is also a lot more woody but actually as i write this i think its really good. Would be nice to review but the price point would be crazy now. I used to get it for $125 a bottle.
I think it's nice but not £100+ nice. Completely agree about oxidising this brand. I get independent bottles of HP at proper abv and you really need to have one dram and then leave them alone for a month. What I want from Highland Park, and it's not much to ask, is a solid age statement, matured in good casks and bottled at 46% or above. They never offer an expression with all three of those requirements. Anyway, a very enjoyable review and I hope you get some relaxation this weekend. Cheers. WT
Great review, I stopped buying HP since they started their new image non-sense. I was not going to buy a 200 $ bottle not knowing what they have done to it because of that. I am happy to hear it is the same quality. Your bottle is 1 month old ?! haha mine was 6-7 years old when it was at that level end of last year. I am more a Laguvulin16 type but do enjoy this 18yr old and the 15 also. Never tried 12yr, I'll give it a go soon :) stay safe
The 12 is really quite good. Funny you mention the 15. An old favorite of mine, but unfortunately they discontinued it, then suddenly in certain markets bring it back, but where I live, never saw it after the initial discontinuance.
@@JasonDebly ho the 15 is discontinued, I will sip it more slowly knowing that. I only have 1/4 of a bottle left ;) I just checked SAQ (I am in Quebec) nothing left here too bad
Thanks Jason. Great video as always. Have you tried Aberlour12 Years? Would be nice if you would like to review it, if you haven´t already. It´s a very good one to my taste at least.
I found a mini of this in California for $4. I really liked it, but didn't think it was worth the spend. Hearing your comments about oxidizing it, I think I missed the full experience!
Nice review, Jason. For me, the 12 year is the sweet spot for HP. The 18 year, while a lovely whisky, has got close to $200 in the US, and at that price point is just outside what I want to pay for it. A good alternative is the 16 year Twisted Tattoo, which my whisky club had at a recent meeting, and sells for a more reasonable $95 US.
Yeah price is brutal, but I am satisfied with the spirit. More and more, I am budgeting to for whisky a certain amount and then just sayin to myself, this is my hobby. Golf clubs and green fees arent cheap either . . . ahh how I can rationalize anything . . .
Hi Jason, just a little feedback. I started watching your videos about four years ago. In the recent year or so it seems your videos slowed down, but I see your back, maybe thats just how youtube works. What I want to say to you is that I have become a little frustrated with some whisky you tubers. They have progressed their whisky journey at lights speed, and have moved to single cask, high end whiskies, something I can not relate to, I'm still enjoying regular core offerings from the whisky and bourbon world, I feel left behind and detached from much of their content now. However, you still provide videos on core range, affordable, easy to access whiskies, whiskies that I can relate to because I have bought them or plan to buy them, so thank you for bringing content that is still relevant to my whisky journey. All the very best Charlie
“Had some friends over” and that’s why it’s so low...riiiight. Great review and spot on about the need for oxygen. Actually I find the 12 also improves considerably over time. I even have a single cask 19 yo release, same story. Needed a couple months.
Been loving the 12 years, and have recently ordered an 18 years for a reasonable price, looking forward to trying it after an initial open, but I shall take on board your advice and leave it open for a week or two and see how it goes down after that.
I haven't had the 18, but I really like the 12. In fact, I bought a bottle of the 12-year-old Highland Park Viking Pride, and the more expensive 12-year-old The Macallan at the same time, and preffered the Highland Park.
Thanks Jason. One of my old favorites. Yes, the HP packaging has become absurd over the last decade. I don’t like it.
I liked the Highland Park 18 when I tried it three years ago., but it seemed to be more hyped than what I got from the experience... Maybe I should have given it more of a chance and taken my time with it so that it could have opened up more? Maybe my experience was soured by the price? Maybe some day I will scare up the courage to get another bottle and take my sweet time with it.
It does receive a lot of hype and sometimes when we build up thoughts in our mind we expect so much. It does deliver in my opinion a flavor tapestry that is unlike any other single malt when you consider the peat and smoke and how they meld with the sherry notes. This is not a cheap malt is the problem. But, in general, a bottle you need to take your time with.
Nice review, Jason. I recently had the good fortune of finding a couple of bottles of the pre-viking themed HP 18 at a small independent liquor store. I'm guessing they are at least 5 years old. Comparing one of those to a recent purchase of the current HP 18 seems to show a definite drop in quality with the current whisky. I've let the newer whisky air out as you advise, but it's still not as good as the older bottling. The older whisky seems to have a greater complexity of flavors as well as better integration of all the flavors. It's not so sweet as the newer whisky and if I were to guess, I would say there's also a larger percentage of whisky aged beyond 18 years in the older spirit as it just has more depth to it.
Agree about the pricing of this whisky, and while it's not quite as bad as where you're at (I paid $130.00 each for both old and new) I can remember when HP 18 was still "only" $85.00 about a decade ago. Probably never see that again!
Good review. Bought a bottle and have been waiting to try it over Zoom with a friend ont he other side of the country, but time zones keep messing us up. So, now employing your trick and giving it 20 minutes open.
Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I do!
Great review, thank you. Have never had an 18 year before, this is in my sights.👍
Always interested in what u have to say + review : the HP18 had gone thru at LEAST 5 bottle rebranding(s) + repackaging since the mid-1980s . . . i have not bought a Park over 10 years, until today = tried HP cask strength in 2021 (in Ontario for 130 $CAD).
“Not the entertainer who needed a check up from the neck up” - not the first time I’ve heard you describe the singer Michael Jackson that way!
Welp, Highland Park 18 is not sold in Pennsylvania stores and out of my price range elsewhere. But I’ll keep it in mind for the future, and I appreciate your perspective on HP’s NAS releases. I see those a lot and have my doubts. I can’t even bring myself to try a glass of Magnus at a bar - I’m curious, but would be embarrassed to order it. We still get the 12 at a reasonable price here, thank goodness.
That oxidation tip reminds me of a local whiskey. Don’t know if you’re aware, but Dad’s Hat is a widely-acclaimed brand of PA rye with scattered availability. I had the Port Cask finish at bars and found it delightfully supple, sweet yet well-balanced, but for years I couldn’t find a bottle when I wanted one. I finally got a bottle and it was AGGRESSIVE...until it had been open for a few weeks.
I look forward to your Naked Grouse review, as I’ve had mixed experiences with that whisky...
I completely agree with HP going overboard and marketing and the 12 and the 18 being the most stable offerings they have to offer. Spot on :)
I have had two bottles of the 25 year in the past and while good, well very good, it is also a lot more woody but actually as i write this i think its really good. Would be nice to review but the price point would be crazy now. I used to get it for $125 a bottle.
I think it's nice but not £100+ nice. Completely agree about oxidising this brand. I get independent bottles of HP at proper abv and you really need to have one dram and then leave them alone for a month. What I want from Highland Park, and it's not much to ask, is a solid age statement, matured in good casks and bottled at 46% or above. They never offer an expression with all three of those requirements. Anyway, a very enjoyable review and I hope you get some relaxation this weekend. Cheers. WT
Wow, haven't seen you this excited in a while. Highland Park 18 is something I should be looking for now eh?
Yup it’s great stuff but as I said in the review, it needs oxidation before it can be appreciated in its best light.
Great review, I stopped buying HP since they started their new image non-sense. I was not going to buy a 200 $ bottle not knowing what they have done to it because of that. I am happy to hear it is the same quality. Your bottle is 1 month old ?! haha mine was 6-7 years old when it was at that level end of last year. I am more a Laguvulin16 type but do enjoy this 18yr old and the 15 also. Never tried 12yr, I'll give it a go soon :) stay safe
The 12 is really quite good. Funny you mention the 15. An old favorite of mine, but unfortunately they discontinued it, then suddenly in certain markets bring it back, but where I live, never saw it after the initial discontinuance.
@@JasonDebly ho the 15 is discontinued, I will sip it more slowly knowing that. I only have 1/4 of a bottle left ;) I just checked SAQ (I am in Quebec) nothing left here too bad
Thanks Jason. Great video as always. Have you tried Aberlour12 Years? Would be nice if you would like to review it, if you haven´t already. It´s a very good one to my taste at least.
Aberlour 12, yeah, its been a long time and I have not reviewed it here. Will add it to the list for sure!
Great Brand, great age, great connoisseur,....what should go wrong🙃
Thank you for sharing....stay healthy!
Greetings from Germany
Moses
You also take care in your fine country!
thank you for the review. Very interesting in next weeks...
Good to hear from you and hope all is well on your end.
Looks fantastic but it’s 389$ in my province!! :O seems a bit much unfortunately… what do you think about that price ?
Yup, that price is crazy. I wouldn’t pay it.
@@JasonDebly me neither.. the cask strength is 150$, though it has no age statement, I’d go for it rather than the 18 for the price!
I found a mini of this in California for $4. I really liked it, but didn't think it was worth the spend. Hearing your comments about oxidizing it, I think I missed the full experience!
Hard to judge the quality of a single malt from those little sample bottles. Best to splurge on this one!
The HP Viking marketing theme is a HUGE turnoff .
I so agree but it is great!
Thank you
Nice review, Jason. For me, the 12 year is the sweet spot for HP. The 18 year, while a lovely whisky, has got close to $200 in the US, and at that price point is just outside what I want to pay for it. A good alternative is the 16 year Twisted Tattoo, which my whisky club had at a recent meeting, and sells for a more reasonable $95 US.
I've experienced some batch variations.
I have heard that from others. This is my first bottle in about ten years. Used to buy it regularly back then when it was only $85 a bottle.
iv had but only a sample of this bottle, for $200 dollars iv been hesitant. but my god I really liked it
Yeah price is brutal, but I am satisfied with the spirit. More and more, I am budgeting to for whisky a certain amount and then just sayin to myself, this is my hobby. Golf clubs and green fees arent cheap either . . . ahh how I can rationalize anything . . .
@@JasonDebly ahah that is a great rationale! I often find myself in the $100-150 mark looking for the diamonds. making the hunt my hobby