Talisker 10 is one of my favorites

No matter which one of these you get, you win! HP was my first entry into peated scotch and I loved it. If someone loves Macallan and wants to try a hint of smoke it's a good gateway. Love Talisker too.

Well put Sir. My first scotch was Highland Park 12. I was disappointed. Moved to Laphroig 10 as my second scotch. Wow. I love that bandaid/ medicinal taste!

Great video. These are two of my favorite , "essential" single malts. This video describes them both well, but I would give HP12 a bit more credit for what it is: a lovely, sweet, fruity malt with just a subtle whisper of smoke. Talisker is more serious: austere, salty and smoky, but also beautiful.

I’d love to see Redbreast Cask Strength vs Blue Spot!!!

Great video Bill! I really love Highland Park at its old price point. However, the price keeps creeping upward. If I had to pick between Talisker 10 and Highland Park 12, I would go Talisker 10 every day.

Love my Talisker. Sipping some right now. I get a lot of green apple breaking through the smoke on the nose and on the palette. More on the nose. Perfect amount of smoke on the palette. Smooth finish, just a little bit of bite. Short-medium finish. Outstanding.

For someone that’s had whisky mixes (jack & coke... etc), Talisker 10 would be my pick as an intro. I got my girlfriend onto whisky with bunnahabhain 12, she loved the honey, caramel notes in it.

Ok, I could not wait any longer and finally had to crack open the talisker 10 I have recently purchased. I humbly believe that I am an experienced whiskey drinker and must say that I do really enjoy this. I do get a light iodine and Band-Aid smell but it is not overpowering at all. First truly peated whiskey I got into was lagavulin 8. The iodine and bandaid smell was triple in that particular scotch. I also got a wonderful sea salt and sea breeze smell that I really enjoy. On The Taste, the iodine and Band-Aid was even less with the ocean spray and sea salt coming out greater. I got some kind of spice which personally I couldn't put my finger on and I did finally get the orange that you referenced. This is really a great whiskey and I am so glad I came across your reviews thank you so much! I have always been a seafood lover so if you are one as well, and like your scotch, I really believe that you are going to enjoy this. Personally, I am still a huge lover of Highland Park 12 and in time I will get to know the talisker 10 even more. But I can tell you right now, there is no reason why both of these cannot be amongst your very favorites. Perhaps a good comparison could be your favorite red wine and your favorite white wine. Finally, the Finish was long for me. A nice combination of the Ocean Spray and sea salt. I can also tell that this was aged in ex burbon barrels. Just wanted to chime in with my thoughts. Thanks again for your review and I am really glad I picked this one up. For me it will be a stock it.

Coming from bourbon and hating peat, Highland Park was my way of easing into peated scotch. On first pour, I thought I made a mistake, but the smoke softened as the bottle sat and now I enjoy it. Trying a glass of Talisker soon at a restaurant before committing to a bottle. Maybe I like peat?

Maybe it’s a hot take but the HP12, in my opinion, would make a great first single malt. Once you’ve got your palate attuned to scotch and can start to appreciating the individual nuances of all the different half-notes, it’s almost like Tasting Training Wheels. To be fair, I haven’t had the Talisker 10 so I couldn’t say which is “better” but I love Viking Honour.

Great video. Hard to pick which one to Try “first “. But, the heather and lightness of the HP 12 makes it a little more approachable to the masses. Both are awesome but different drams. Cheers!

I prefer talisker 10.. Love the islays and Islands scotches. So a friend said try Talisker 10 because I always bought Islays.. So long story short I bought it and is becoming one off my favourites. I drank the highland park before with a friend and it was great too. So now I want Islands peated scotches too. I want you to see to review the new version off talisker 10.

Highland Park. Hands down. I enjoy Talisker, but the smoke is harder and the sherry addition in HP helps many newer drinkers. Just IMO.

I think Talisker 10 is a much better 😀 I will see Talisker 18 vs Highland Park 18 😀👍

HP12 gets bonus points in my scoring for being an exceptional daily drinker. I totally get the "it's trying to be too many things" comment but that's what makes it great to reach for when i want a whiskey, but can't quite decide how stiff, intense, or what flavor profile I'm craving exactly. Always worth having both of these bottles on your shelf IMO.

Talisker, hands down. HP12 has an empty mid-palate that I find to be a big let down.

I like sherry in my scotch so I would go Highland Park 12. I don't think these are in the same category though, Talisker is very good but I prefer Ardbeg, Laphrioag, Lagavulin or a Port Charlotte if i'm drinking something peaty.

Highland Park 12 2017 was my first scotch. Didn't love it the first time, but I have gotten it again and now enjoy it. Never had the Talisker.

I think if someone is newer to scotch Id steer them into HP12, but for myself its Talisker all the way. I wish I could try it without chill-filtration, just to see if i could tell the difference....

Hands down.. Talisker 10..! You should do a review of Talisker 8 Special Release 2020(Diageo malts)

I would recommend the Highland Park 12 to a beginner since the person we are referring to is well... a beginner. I think the mildness (my perception) and the few highs and lows of the HP 12 lend themselves well for exploring the taste profile of the whiskey. In my opinion it's important for a beginner to be able to say "hey I'm tasting this and that and I'm getting something of this and there" and not be like "yeah that's peaty" or "ooof that's smokey".

In my country they are about the same price so I am really thankful for this video :D

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I really love the Highland Park whiskey. I have some whiskey in my collection that cost 20 to 40% more and I prefer the Highland Park. In the Highland Park I get a stronger Peat flavor the more I drink it and when my class is finished I smell campfire in a glass. The Peat is not strong it is on the sweeter side and nice. That said, I recently purchased the talisker 10 and I am so looking forward to trying it. I think the iodine and Band-Aid taste is acquired but all the other flavors you described are ones that I really like. I will come back with an update once I tasted talisker but once again thank you for such a great review. And by the way, there is no reason why a scotch lover couldn't have both. :)

Iodine, seawater, bandaid and adhesive sounds like a winning combo for sure.

I'd have to go with the Talisker just because it's such a well put together scotch. The peat is pronounced without being overpowering, and there's some salty sweetness as well. What's not to like? Haven't spent enough time with HP 12 to really have an opinion on it. Had a 1/2 dram of it once at a tasting alongside the HP 10 and preferred the HP 10.

I like that Highland Park surprises you with a smoke taste when it is fairly weak on the nose. Perhaps because my spouse and daughter are turned off by strongly peated whisky odors emanating from my drinking glass. Anyway, I am not at all turned off by a different taste than nose, and I like the balance of HP12.

I didn't like the Talisker 10 on my first glass, but from my second onwards I loved it! I have no idea why! Highland Park 12 is better for a newbie though, but I prefer the Talisker 10.

I haven't tried Higland Park 12 yeat, but i tried Highland Park Ambassador's Choice and i loved it. I also tried Talisker 10, and in my oopinion Talisker 10 is better the HP Ambassador's Choice, although it wins by a nail.!!!

Highland Park on weekdays, Talisker on the weekend.

Personally, I'd probably reach for the HP 12 first and also lean towards the sherry influence to ease an intro to scotch if those were my only 2 choices. I do love Talisker as well, though, and the Distillers Edition is one of my absolute favorites. But now I'm wondering how Talisker 10 would compare to a 50/50 blend of Wee Beastie and Old Pulteney 12, smokey + briney...

with you 100%

Talisker 10 is a serious price/quality go to whisky. Highland Park 12 is 40 % abv in the U.K so it's a no brainer. Wishy washy smooth entry level HP or something that serious drinkers enjoy. The Talisker 10 is always on my shelf and a Serge Valentin 90 points.

As a begining for a journey into smoke and pleated whisky start with the Highland Park 12.

Would like to see comparison between Springbank 10, Arran 10 year and Hazelburn 10 year.

I haven't sampled the HP, but given your description, I'd go with the Talisker, which is one of my favorite whiskys anyway. Now do Talisker and Oban! I love them both for their seaside flavor. Briny and kelpy and just enough peat and smoke.

I like similar age stated versus. Bulleit 10 v Russell's Reserve 10 might be good. Or if you had a Henry McKenna you can toss that in. I'm planning to do a "versus" for my own enjoyment with those 3 plus Eagle Rare

When I first had Talisker 10 it changed after every other sip. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. I found it very interesting.

Nice vid! Interesting that you did not get that spicy "chilly catch" in Talisker which most people talk about and I most certainly can taste 😁 On the other hand I myself can never get that bandaid taste in any whiskey. I basically don't know what note is the one that I taste and most people call bandaid/iodine 😁 To me it is usually just smoky or a peaty taste, I guess one of these? 😁 I can get it when a smoke is ashy, but not when "bandaid". Btw I absolutely agree, HP is not in the same weight class as Talisker. It wants to do too much and gets boring. Plus here in EU it is only 40% so that makes it even less interesting, sadly

Great video. Very neutral and unbiased. Talisker 10 is my next purchase. Why do you cover the glasses? I don’t see others do that.

Glenkinchie 12 vs Compass Box Great King Street Artist's Blend, cocktail battle, wich one is the better mixer, the single malt or the blend.

This was a fun video, thanks for making and please do more.

Have both talisker wins but highland is a better starter scotch.

Talisker 10 all the way!

Talisker10. It's so much more complex. I always found Highland Park to be too gentle, almost as gentle as a Lowland Scotch. But I have to ask, how are you not picking up apple and pear notes from Talisker?

Great video. Your videos are very well done, thanks for the reviews.

I personally really think people should go for Highland Park first, because it's going to be easier and sweeter (more rich in that regard)and a smoke is going to be smooth and gentle, where Talisker with seaweed and little bit funkier smoke (not a bed thing) can be a little bit of putting for beginner. Just personal opinion.

Fantastic review, I would love to see Glenfarclas 105 vs Aberlour A'bunadh. 🙏

I agree with your assessment of Highland Park. To me it was just meh. I traded most of a bottle to a friend for a two-thirds full bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask. I know I got the better of that deal. Talisker 10 is much better, and the distiller's edition even better than that. Unfortunately, the DE is hard to get where I am.

Very helpful as always, sir!

In early April 2024, at the Virginia state stores: a. Highland Park 12, $63 b. Talisker 10, $80 A noticeable difference!

Love the VS idea, hope you do more of these in the future

HP 12 is, sadly, a shadow of its former self. Find if you can an older bottling in the vase shaped bottle, they were fantastic 👍

Really would like to see a Talisker 10 vs Longrow Peated

Watch the Luenings Face Of with these drams!!

HP12 is next on my buy list, but maybe I should lower my expectations. I enjoyTalisker (have toured the distillery, too!), but have definitely been intrigued by HP. Maybe their "Viking marketing" is working on me!!

Hi. On a related topic. As you are so knowledgeable in whisky can you offer me some advice. I have a friend who is teethering on becoming an alcoholic as he consumes so much I'd booze. He insists he is in control but I think not. Do you know any way I can get him to either stop or moderate his drinking. Thanks.

Great review

Like your videos and your info. Thanks! New subscriber. I agree with your conclusion. How do you feel about the Highland Park Cask Strength?

HP 12. I think the medicinal notes of the Talisker 10 will likely push a new person to scotch away too quickly. I like both but they are different animals. IMO HP punches above its price point. If I want to go medicinal I would likely go to laphroaig 10 💪

For me it's the HP12. It's always been one of my go-tos ever since I first got into whisky. Talisker, on the other hand, is one I've tried off and on over the years and I really want to like it, but something about it turns me off and I've never been able to identify what. I don't remember if it was their NAS or the 10, though; guess I need to try more....

Talisker 10 everyday!

Highland Park 🥃

I think I’d choose Talisker for a cold, rainy day whereas I’d choose highland park for a spring or fall evening. I think highland park is the brighter one whereas Talisker is peppery and a little metallic. Try Talisker with oysters or mussels whereas highland park with salmon or swordfish.

I would go Talisker! Highland Park is good but I like the rich peat balance of Talisker more. And I wouldn’t recommend anyone start with these scotches as beginners. More like an intermediate step in the direction of peat.

2years ago in a dedicated highland park video you said that the highland park lost almost all the flavors on the taste from the nose. You were only left with salt and smoke to taste. Now you mentioned all the fruits in the taste. Cannot understand

Talisker 10 wins for me. If someone wants a little more fruit, Talisker DE would be a good choice.

How does Talisker compare to Laphroig?

Talisker is an excellent whiskey and value for money. HP12 is just disgusting and most people like for the brand...that's a fact, not only an opinion ;)

Hp12

HP12

Do Hakushu 18 vs Yoichi 15!

I did not start with either one of them. Startet with writers tears and then redbreast and then like glenfiddich. First peated whisky was HP12! I had then afterwards a Talisker sample package with Skye, Storm and the 10. I think both destilleries have a character that i haven´t found somewhere else.

It’s Talisker 10 in a runaway

I drank talisker while eating a pack of chips. Turned my tongue into a slimy seaweed coated squid. Umami overload!

HP 12 in Europe is... boring. It's 40% abv and the smell and the body are so weak you might think it's a glass of water. One of the worst q/p ratio on the market. On the other hand, Talisker 10 is always a good choice.

Personally, I like Talisker better, but of the two I'd probably recommend Highland Park to someone new to scotch. Frankly, though, Highland Park 12 just isn't as good as it used to be. Just my opinion.

Thanks for another great review.FYI...........This is just to provide feedback as I think you would want to know. I found your background music distracting from what you were saying ( probably because I really liked the beat .drums,and guitar ) even though it was not that loud. Maybe a more mellow music vs. rock n roll. ..............Slainte'

For the noob HP is great and a good all around gift whisky., but Talisker is an acquired taste that my scare a noob away from scotch. Really spayside scotch like monkey shoulder is the best noob scotch.

The taste isn’t as important as that cool Highland Park 12 bottle that looks great on my home bar.

Highland Park 👍

Look at prices today 😭

Talisker 10 is sooo much better.Glenfarclas 15 v Glen Garioch 12.

Woooo

Johnnie Walker Red v Black Douglas....

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