Highland fans

[KJND]

Just started dabbling in scotch the last couple of months. Currently, I have three speysides in stock (Fiddich 12, Balvanie DW 12, and Kirkland Spey 20 year). Tried some Arberlour 12 from Marker and am really impressed with that bottle. Have only had the DW a couple times but am close to empty on the bottle of Fiddich. I know I like Spey's and plan to open the Kirkland once we move into our new house this summer.

Just picked up a Glenmorangie 10 to try some highlands. I would like to pick up one additional bottle to sample from this region and have decided it's between Oban 14 and HP 12.

Any help on the good or bad of my suggested selections would be appreciated as I'm more of a bourbon drinker, just trying to expand my horizons.

[canadianbeaver]

Not sure what your budget allows but my favorite is Scapa 16. That Kirkland is so great. If you figure how reasonable it is at $45, and the Scapa 16 is $120, the 2 net out at $83 per.

Given the chance, I can justify the cost of just about anything. :-)

[tmc123]

Agree with schlomo, the abunadh is great but a little bit more than HP 12 or the lower end macallans. If you can find it, try the sherry cask macallans, with the shortage of quality sherry casks around the world these will become something of a rarity over the next decade or more. The HP 12 is something that even a scotch addict like myself can enjoy, one of the first ten scotches i ever had and still has a place in my bar. Of course your tastes will probably change, and you may move on to islay scotches, but i find highlands are just goldilocks for me, not too peaty and not too soft like a speyside. Juuuust right.

[Lotusguy]

HP12 would get my vote between the two - slightly cheaper than Oban 14 and more complex taste. It is also a gentle introduction to more smoky whiskys.

A'bunadh blows them both out of the water.

[KJND]

Thanks for the help, looks like HP 12 it is...

Sorry CB the Scapa is a little high for my budget currently, I do like the math though . I use it every now and then on the wife when she starts asking a few too many questions on my purchases.