Favorite go-to Scotch: Highland Park 18

Hoke, as a result of your notes I will seek out a Highland Park to try at some point.

I'm with Hoke, I find too much peat off-putting. I bought a bottle of Ardbeg recently, never having tried it; the whiskey reminded me of the time years ago when I asked the Scots proprietor of the Edinburgh Castle, a wonderful pub in San Francisco, why he didn't sell Lagavulin; he shuddered theatrically and said 'Because it tastes like seaweed and dead bodies.'

Each to his own. I love Highland Park.

that's hysterical!

Hoke, as a result of your notes I will seek out a Highland Park to try at some point.

Hey, JC: it ain't cheap. Best go to a good bar and try a dram before buying a full bottle.

In our market, for Highland Park 18, you pay $150 a bottle. They also carry 21 and 30 and a couple of 'named' ones, Loki and Thor (ah, the yuppification of what was once the intellectual pursuit of gentlemen.....)

Love Highland Park 18 but it is a bit steep for a go-to for me ($100 here). I have no quibble with HP12.

I really enjoyed Monkey Shoulder at a tasting this past week (or maybe I was hypnotized by Charlotte Voissey giving the demo) 8+)

Glenmo port finished was the first "special wood finish" scotch that I tried and that started a love affair with those barrel variations too.

Royal Lochnagar has been a fairly affordable and quite enjoyable bottle for me over the years.

Caol Ila...resounding Yes!

Drifting the thread a bit, I went to a session on Japanese whiskeys (Suntory) this past week. While I've had a great appreciation for Yamazaki, I was completely bowled over by the Hibiki 12.

[quote="Bill Buitenhuys"]Love Highland Park 18 but it is a bit steep for a go-to for me ($100 here). I have no quibble with HP12.

I really enjoyed Monkey Shoulder at a tasting this past week (or maybe I was hypnotized by Charlotte Voissey giving the demo) 8+)

Glenmo port finished was the first "special wood finish" scotch that I tried and that started a love affair with those barrel variations too.

Royal Lochnagar has been a fairly affordable and quite enjoyable bottle for me over the years.

Caol Ila...resounding Yes!

Drifting the thread a bit, I went to a session on Japanese whiskeys (Suntory) this past week. While I've had a great appreciation for Yamazaki, I was completely bowled over by the Hibiki 12.[/quote

Ah, the Hibiki...one of my all time favorite whiskies. Love that stuff.