Highland Park 12 Viking Honour | The Whiskey Dictionary

[@mitchseifert8199]

You're the best whiskey reviewer on KZbin hands down and I seen alot

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I appreciate that so much man there's definitely days where the amount of views I get on one of my reviews are a little disheartening but messages like this are the lifeblood of my motivation so thank you so much

[@HieronymousLex]

The Whiskey Dic even if a couple hundred people watch a video, if you think about all of those real people in a room with each other drinking whiskey, that’s a hell of a lot of people. I can’t remember where I heard this but I heard that you interact with about 100,000 people in your life on average. If your views total higher than that, you’ve reached more people than you’re ever going to meet and that’s pretty awesome. I have faith that more and more people are going to enjoy whiskey and turn to online communities for whiskey discussion, and you easily have the best KZbin channel for whiskey reviews so you’re in a really prime spot. I really enjoy sipping whiskey and unwinding by watching your videos, and I very much appreciate the time and money you put into your videos! Someday we will all have to do a bourbon trail meetup lol

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Very kind words Lex. Thank you :) interesting perspective... I get more than 100,000 views a month! Usually about 80,000 unique viewers... so that's encouraging

[@kevinm919]

lol do u have multiple accounts ?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Not 80,000!

[@theanalyst1751]

I don’t even like whisky, but listening to you talk about it with such enthusiasm is a truly wonderful thing. You come across as a genuinely decent human being and I’d like to wish you all the best in your life.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thanks Asim!

[@YoungShag]

This is the first single malt where I was like “wow, this is really good!” I want to try the 15.

[@WhiskeyStraightAl]

When I first tried this one, I wasn't overly impressed. Then, as it opened up, it really started to grow on me! Definitely a solid Scotch!

[@planetwaft349]

In UK it is now 43% abv. Am going to get it for my Dad for Father's Day.

[@drax14QC]

Oh that’s nice! Is it new ? I know it used to be at 40%. Luckily here in Canada it’s already at 43% for as far as I know.

[@richardgillette5759]

Last year there was a 25% tariff added to all single malts. Some companies like Laphroaig and Lagavullin continued to jack up their price while others like Ardbeg and Highland Park adjusted their prices to not just pass it on to the consumer. I bought a bottle of HP12 last xmas for same price as I bought it today. I appreciate that.

[@modernjoe2]

I’ve been looking for this for probably a year or so, on and off. Decided to stop and get a bottle of Glenfiddich yesterday because I wanted to try it and decided to look around. Lo and behold it was the first time I’ve seen highland park here in the Far East of bourbon country. I immediately fell in love with it and it’s the first scotch I can truly say that about

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thats an awesome stroke of luck!

[@paulhutchinson9525]

This is my most favorite whiskey ever...I hope they never stop making it

[@Von_Fishman]

Thanks for the review Bill! I think HP 12 is a great scotch, and like you said embodies what a lot of people think of with the word "scotch": dense, rich, smokey. Also at the price point it's a good dram for someone who wants to ease into more complex scotches, but doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg!

[@Wolfcatfilms]

I actually just bought myself a bottle of this to celebrate getting a new job!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Congrats!

[@YoungShag]

Slainte!

[@PumpkinDefender]

I’d love to start seeing more list videos, particularly great inexpensive beginner scotches to give as gifts to friends who are just getting into scotch.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

You got it!

[@albertomolina3678]

I absolutely love this whiskey! Along my whiskey journey, I cannot believe that I waited so long to try this. I first bought a bottle of the Viking honor 3 years ago I'm soon after bought the previous version of the Highland Park 12. I started with the Viking honor because of the reviews stating that it was not as good as the previous version. To me, the previous version and the Viking honour are exactly the same. If anything I'd give the edge to the Viking honor for those on the hunt for a previous version. They were both great and I consider them to be the same. I really love this scotch and while there are so many other scotches out there that cost more and maybe better my enjoyment factor for the scotch is extremely high. I think that your review is spot-on except for the fact that I do not get the grainy taste. For me this is a Stock it. of all the Whiskey's I own I have multiple backup bottles of this one. Thank you for another great review!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Have you seen the Talisker 10 vs. Highland Park 12 that I put out last week?

[@albertomolina3678]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary I did and really love to review. The only reason why I haven't responded is because I have not tried the talisker 10 just yet. I'm getting over a cold so I plan to do so this weekend then I will go back and share my thoughts. Thanks again for your great reviews and I really appreciate you making that head-to-head comparison.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Oh man, you're gonna love it! Hope you feel better

[@WhiskeyQuests]

Rob from whiskey in the 6 loves this stuff. You, him and many more agree. 50 bucks for me is a lot. But I need to give this a try.

[@Alfador42]

DO IT!!

[@dallasmckinley]

Tasting along with you from over here in the UK. I can taste the sherry in there... a nice dram. Good review and I agree with the solid buy it. Great review.

[@RobertKangchristianunix]

The bottle looks unique and elaborate. It catches attention! :) As for me, I have not tried it yet. It was highly recommended to me, and I am checking out the review before I enjoy it.

[@samuelandmarikaadams9837]

I always restock this whiskey. For me it is offers a little bit of everything and is really well balanced

[@derekritter6214]

I've had my eye on this one for years, but just never tried it. Finally, just got a bottle a couple weeks ago. Much like you said in your review, mild peat, but not overwhelming. About halfway in between a Macallan 12, and an Ardbeg 10

[@leivurjoensen190]

My Airbnb guest just gave me this bottle when he arrived. Guess who is getting 5 stars?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

That's a nice bottle to gift! About $45

[@CicadaAppreciationSociety]

Great review! It's probably my favorite scotch. Try a taste of Ardbeg, then go back to the HP12 and (for me at least) all I could taste was sherry sweetness. Weird how it brought that out.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

The tasting notes on this one were a little tough to pin down. What do you get out of it?

[@straight6lyfe867]

I enjoy this bottle, but does have a unique nose, reminds me of a smoked fruit cake almost for the most part.

[@enriquefors3284]

I really enjoy this whiskey. I get mostly honey, earthiness, grassy notes, saltiness and mild smokiness from its flavor.

[@charlesashworth6805]

I get toffee and fruit with a lingering black pepper finish. I really enjoy hp12

[@djbeacon6895]

Bill, Just bought my first bottle last week and got hit with a band-aid smell on first opening. Same the next day. BUT now, a week later and blind tasting with 3 other scotch = success and very nice. Also found a bottle last week of the older/previous edition with an orange band on the label (like your earlier yellow band label bottle on the 18 year). Will save that one and drink the newer Viking Honor. For me, I enjoy the Glenfarclas 12 and Old Pulteney 12 more. My favorite 12 year is the Glendronach. CHEERS!!

[@evenflowcss]

Tastes better than it smells. Not a fan of the nose (smells like a hospital, and not in a good way) but I love the balance of sherry and smoke on the palatte.

[@mikel5801]

Just bought my first bottle and must say it's one of my newest favorites

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I'm psyched to hear that!

[@jmanswat2457]

I've tasted a couple of blended scotches. But none of them taste like what I expected scotch "to taste like". So having THE "scotch taste" seems to be a valuable tasting quality to me. Looking forward to getting Viking Honor for my next whisky night!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I'm glad to hear that :)

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Good review. I need to pick up a new bottle of HP 12. This is a go to for when I'm trying to ease people into peat. Nothing medicinal, but some earthy smoke to help them get into peated Scotch. I usually get a little more fruit in the palate then you, but that was an older bottling. Hopefully it's not totally gone now. Thanks again.

[@carlh4350]

It's funny you say nothing medicinal. I really dislike peat. About a year or so ago when i was just experimenting with scotch, a buddy of mine said to try HP 12. He said it was just smokey, no bandaid. Wrong. For my palate, i got bandaid. I gave him the bottle. I think he was just looking for a freebie lol. My point is, its pretty amazing how different everyones taste / palate can be. Cheers.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

For sure. I totally dont get the medicinal part but it's cool how everyone gets something different

[@jamestmc5409]

At first i got second taught on this brand , but after u great review . I proceed with confident . Thanks for sharing . Pricing affortable

[@masonreay276]

Iv bought this for my grandad on farthers day with some whiskey glasses and stone ice cubes just having a look if it's good lol

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Cool!

[@davidbathkedb]

Such a great balanced whiskey for peat and smokiness, thank you!

[@JackOfAllBladesCh]

The tasting notes don't sound quite right, when I get home I'll try and let you know. This is a great daily drinker quality scotch.

[@charlesashworth6805]

I love highland park whisky. Having had both, the previous version is a little closer to Macallan with much more tropical fruit notes and less of the peppery finish it get on viking honor

[@andymofoincross]

Do you have any plans for reviewing Talisker 10 or Lagavulin 16 in the near future?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Absolutely

[@Themilkmanskid.]

Getting nervous about all this talk of these single malt 12's as being sweet. That just reminds me of cheap blends when I hear sweet without a qualifier, but I am very much still an amateur scotch drinker with Oban 14 and Glenlivet 18(abv 43%) as the best I've ever had. I love those two; they are way better than the cheap blends I've tried. Why am I getting nervous you may ask; it is because I bought 3 bottles of different 12yo's to try over the coming holidays and hearing way too much sweet talk about them in reviews. More earthy notes are to my liking. Wish sweet could be qualified or quantified like a comparison to something or a sweetness thermometer haha. I know, it's probably not that simple. Please remember I am totally amateur at this stuff. Thanks much for reviewing scotch and always cheers to you!

[@Themilkmanskid.]

Back to say my thoughts on HP12 after giving it a fair shake: Sweet with a bit of smoke. Way way too sweet. Sugar bom big time and very very cheap tasting.

[@mundaneMindanao]

Very new to whisk (e)y (I have currently tried 6) your videos are very helpful in deciding what to try and also the types of notes I should be looking out for. This is the smokiest (also band aid and rubbing alcohol at first) I've tried so far and very interesting and I was surprised how completely different this is compared to my beginner speyside whisky I'm used to. Slowly working my way up to Laphroaig 😬

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thats exciting! I'm interested to know what your 6 that you've had to so far would be

[@mundaneMindanao]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary my first was monkey shoulder as I was told this was a good for beginners. I then bought Glenfiddich 12 and I got a Glenlivet in American oak as a gift around the same time. I then wanted to move away from scotch so I bought Jameson as its pretty cheap and was interested to know the differences. I also got jack Daniels at that point but didn't really like it (only use it as a mixer really as I love my others too much to add anything) and today I bought Highland park 12 which I really like (maybe new favourite)

[@shawnseesengood3677]

I'm a fan of this one, but would like something similar with a bit more smoke. What would you recommend?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Maybe a bowmore 12 or caol ila

[@Mose2305]

Hmm, the Highland Park 12 Viking Honor is one I have but have not opened due to a lot of varying views, but with a solid buy it motivates me to crack it open. Cheers Bill!

[@christofinb]

This whisky tastes different each time I try it, leave it in thr glass for long enough you get like and islay peat but freshly poored it is fuity. Great all rounder it seems to evolve even, just as complex on the nose. Would never say its simple, but it depends how you find it at the time, if that makes sense.

[@adamnoturfuknbusiness2367]

my simplified notes for HP 12: taste and smell: eating fruitcake in an RV during/after a campfire

[@ilmelangolo]

A bit of chestnuts and candied cedar at the nosing taste, maybe?

[@foodquig]

Is this the same juice as the old HP12 but with a new label? I liked the "old" Hp 12... So far, with the whole Viking theme I find the Magnus to be good value for the money while the Valkyrie is a bit of a disappointment and the Full Volume is OK but not spectacular...

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Absolutely it is the same juice. From what I hear the old 12 tended to be more parts of old barrels but nowadays with demand it is a lot closer to 12 years

[@danielh750]

Balcones named their bourbon after the ground? What are you referring to? The "Blue" is referring to the corn they use.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Their brand.

[@abcdefghijklmnop5587]

Would you recommend this whiskey for a beginner?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Very likely I would. Its in my beginner scotch list and I think it deserves its place there

[@IliasJoels]

I don't really understand. I've tried several whiskey's but all i got was the smell and taste of the heavy alcohol. Just once, after drinking a few beers and being lightly drunk, could i really smell and taste a whiskey. How do you learn to drink whiskey?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

That's a great question! I'd answer your question here but honestly youd be better off watching my video on how to nose whiskey and how to taste whiskey. Both go into it in detail.

[@likeathousandninjas3936]

How does it compare to the 18 years?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

The 18 is incredible. I'd say they arent comparable

[@LatteBrown]

At $54.99 before taxes, this would be a "Special" occasion bottle for me! My limit for now is $50 a bottle. TFS

[@flying_hussar3034]

I don't know if its 43%abv but I have impression that HP12 has better reviews in the US. Here in UK I find HP12 flat and lacking character. People say great all-rounder but I'm not convinced

[@z3ro7o]

Is this a beginner whisky , i dont like alot of smoke. Want to buy 3 beginne bottles, can you name a few to try, i tried monkey shoulder its great

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I did a video on beginner bourbons, scotch, and Irish whiskies. Give it a look :) this one is on there

[@z3ro7o]

Ty

[@HarlemGreatest]

Not $45 in my area.. its almost $70.

[@albertomolina3868]

Tied with McCallen for my favorite 12 year old. However, McCallen is over priced sadly.

[@Mr.Truxton]

Damn it's weird how subjective taste and smell can be....

[@geraldn.6871]

I saw this in my grocery store. My grocery store renovated to be a trendy upscale grocery store with a bar and restaurant and a few cafes in the store. One of the things they’ve upscaled was their liquor department. I saw the bottle and thought it was pretty, so I took a picture and checked out what you had to say. Thank you 😊 I’m buying it.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Let me know what you think!

[@Rafael-jj1ye]

Store near my house sells it for $35

[@charlesashworth6805]

Buy it now and buy it often for that price

[@nairbjc]

Balcones is just balcony or balconies.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Balcones is the name of a fault in texas

[@nairbjc]

The Whiskey Dic Cool. So then I found this. Texas Primer: The Balcones Escarpment If life wasn’t always quiet on the Western front, the Hill Country tells us where the fault lies. BY STEPHEN HARRIGAN DATE DECEMBER 1, 1987 “Daddy,” I hope my children will have the presence of mind to ask one day, “where does the West begin?” I will take them into the front yard of our house in Austin, point down the street to where a high limestone terrace will be visible in the distance through the branches of winter trees, and say, with sober authority, “There.” The Balcones Escarpment. It is geology’s most fateful mark upon the surface of Texas, a bulwark of cracked and weathered rock that extends in a pronounced arc from Waco to Del Rio. It is the Balcones that creates the Hill Country, that sets the stage for the Edwards Plateau and the High Plains beyond. The cotton economy, for our schematic purposes, ends at the base of the escarpment, where the rich blackland prairie that sustained the courtly reveries of the old South runs literally into a wall. Above that mass of limestone there is only a veneer of soil, and the country is hard, craggy, and scenic-cowboy country. The distinction is that sharp: farmers to the east, ranchers to the west.

[@englishgent3857]

So its just highland 12 original

[@charlesashworth6805]

Yeah it's the standard 12 year highland park. When they rebranded they added the viking honor.

[@alexk3088]

Vikings are cool... why?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Because pillaging and battle axes!

[@ginger8383]

Also did well with incorporating into the society, Romans only.really worked on south of Britain but Vikings did well in most places (except the monk islands... they didn't blend well!) The Celts still love Iceland and Denmark:)