The 5 Most "Classic" HIGHLAND Scotch Whiskies (according to whisky lovers)

The whisky community voted up the most "classic" Highland scotches - not necessarily their "favorite". These are the results! Use code WHISKEYTRIBE14 for up to 14 FREE MEALS + 3 Free Gifts across 5 HelloFresh boxes plus free shipping at bit.ly/3wa9DAL! Taste can be subjective - especially when it comes to whisk(e)y. (The "best" whisky is the whiskey you like to drink - the way you like to drink it.) But is there a consensus for what COMMON flavors define Highland Scotch? Here are your results for the most CLASSIC / QUINTESSENTIAL / REPRESENTATIVE / PROTOTYPICAL / CONSUMMATE HIGHLAND Whiskies available today.
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(FLAVOR CLOUD) You can add up to 5 specific flavors you experience in the Glenmorangie Original 10 FLAVOR CLOUD here: www.menti.com/z366oi4onb
* We'll reveal the results in an upcoming episode.
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[@MarkoAlpner]

#5 Deanston 12 #4 Dalmore 12 #3 Oban 14 #2 Highland Park 12 #1 Glenmorangie Original (10)

[@IvoTrausch]

I think it's unfair that Campbeltown, with all its three distilleries, gets to be a region, while the islands have to be lumped in with the highlands

[@jdmac150]

Old Pulteney is an underrated Highland.

[@brego129]

Yeah but they rebranded it to a 40% from 43% 😡

[@brendanwaldon2117]

@@brego129 yeah rubbish now

[@derekm3180]

@@brego129 What? noooo. I used to love Old Pulteney

[@kingjongun7295]

i love old puleteny

[@sleepypeanut2657]

There's a subtle saltiness that I found really addictive. Even the 12 is really good

[@brettAnichols]

I went dry week without alcohol no problem, but I also wanted to take a break from cannabis which proved more difficult. 4 days into the dry week I finally stopped, but now I'm thinking I might take the rest of the year off cannabis.

[@kungfumaster1927]

I did sober October and was shocked I didn’t miss whiskey or alcohol for a minute but the weed was almost impossible to resist. I had to toss my stash to do it, but the break was nice.

[@lauriedepaurie]

Good job man! Had to make that decision a couple of years ago myself. It allowed me to seek help in finding other ways to relax and unwind. Long road, but worth it for me.

[@jeremythornton433]

I quit cannabis about 30 years ago. I used to love it but then I ran into some wheel chair weed and found I couldn't function for 3 or so hours. After about 6 months, I suddenly felt like a great heavy felt blanket was lifted off of my brain. I never realized how much I was living in a fog before that. Not going back, believe me.

[@codybeaudreau3026]

@@jeremythornton433 Good on ya man. I quit weed over ten years ago and the brain fog and general malaise went away, like you described. You know what I replaced it with? PBR. Lots of PBR.

[@Alex-zi1nb]

used to smoke daily. was lucky enough to break it cold turkey and now i just cant even imagine doing it again

[@Johann01198]

HEllO NICE TO MEET U I’m from South Korea. Whiskey is fun to learn about. It’ a pleasure joining the tribe members THANK U!

[@TheAlexhotz]

Glenmorangie 10 was my introduction to scotch and it's been my favorite in the Speyside/highland regions. It's just so dense and I can get it $35-$45 at my local wholesale liquor store. At that price veeeeeeery little whiskey comes close bourbon scotch or otherwise.

[@benjaminparker4482]

Saturday means 1 thing WhiskeyTribe

[@mamuka1977]

I absolutely love Deanston 12 year old and I am glad it made the list so do Oban 14. Great video as usual thank you guys

[@TheCort1971]

Highland park is my favorite scotch. its so nice on a cool fall evening by a campfire. the very best.

[@AdamPFarnsworth]

Absolutely nailed this list. Glenmorangie is my all time favorite "every day" whiskey. And Dalmore and Oban are awesome!

[@thegreatwalrus153]

Glenmorangie is my go to as well. Never lets me down with consistent flavor.

[@AdamPFarnsworth]

@@brianboru8858 more for me then!

[@ashtonfield7402]

Please be aware ALL scotch whisky is spelt without the ‘e’…….

[@AdamPFarnsworth]

@@ashtonfield7402 please be aware everyone in England spells color with a "u"

[@AdamPFarnsworth]

@@ashtonfield7402 And EVERYONE in Germany spells their country "Deutschland"

[@intramolecular]

The salt in the Oban 14 is because you can literally throw a stone from the distillery into the sea, which is across the road. But it is very must on the mainland, it just happens to be beside the sea which give it an Island malt feel.

[@lewisbattes8280]

I love everything you guys do i mean that collection alone is insane 😍😍. Only note i would add as from a whisky based bartender in edinburgh, we tend to use islands as a seperate category as you say talisker,scapa and highland park ect do have a unique taste unlike highland especially that salty briney note from talisker. So i would generally describe single malts as lowlands,speyside,highlands, campbeltown,islay and islands. So you have a little give and take for a future video 😊😍✌

[@bebeih]

Went dry too. Thank you guys! Now I’ll enjoy my turkey day!

[@davidhalliday7776]

Hell yes! Oban 14... I get the old leather on this AND Glenmorangie Original... Love this as its also the base for most of their other finishes.

[@LP-gs3xj]

Gadzooks. You guys got me in the mood for some Laphraog and my better half moved my glasses - ugh found them after a ten minute search. Sipping away

[@Piface2099]

Did dry week 100%, started getting sick on the last day. RIP. So currently in an "extended involuntary indefinite inebriation abstention." Still got coffee though

[@craighayes3316]

As always, entertaining, informative and unmissable. Ive been a whiskey drinker for years but back in 2019 i ended up having neck surgery. Since that time ive been on strong pain killers for which im unable to drink alcohol. Now, since finding your channels i feel like im there with you tasting these fantastic creations. Although i do miss it dearly, you've brought the world of whiskey/whisky/bourbon, back to my world for which i cant thankyou enough.

[@noname-mz2yb]

Viking scars I like the oak taste is a bit strong for me yet the drink is really great, I enjoy it with a good cigar.

[@syberiandude1440]

Actually surprised that Macallan, Glendronach and Aberfeldy didnt make a list )

[@besthvac1972]

OBAN 14 is my first - that's whisky i buy most often ,but Glenmorangie is very good also

[@liamisjesus]

Uh oh! Chunky's here! He's gobblin up your Highlands!

[@tubeagespank]

For those unfamiliar with honeysuckle, I often associate the floral scent in highlands with plumeria flowers. They are the yellow-throated, silky white flowers in Hawai'ian leis, among other things. YMMV

[@aribach]

HP is my go to for highland whisky. So good…

[@SoulConfession]

Idk if I missed it or not but could you do a top 5 or top 10 cask strength Highland/Speyside? Thanks ^^

[@Thisisausername556]

Honeysuckle is something I know very well growing up here in GA. I don't know how regional it is, but I know the American South has plenty of it.

[@AaronLindsay]

Love me some Glenmorangie. I really like The Original but lately I've been reaching for the Quinta Ruban (port cask finish)

[@jacobdaniell27]

I have the La Santa right now, but damn am I still missing my Quinta Ruban. Great stuff, especially for the price!

[@elijahnieves3144]

Yes

[@codybeaudreau3026]

I had a bottle of Quinta Ruban and every dram was better than the last.

[@TheWhiskyBaron]

Lovely dram that!

[@PixlPutterMan]

Ruban is my top 5 scotches, and Im an Islay guy

[@graemeo3440]

Oban 14 is my favourite whisky. Does not get the recognition it deserves.

[@fishguy911]

Deanston 12 was my pick. Such a solid whisky.

[@mmtx73]

Glenmorangie Original is one of those bottles I'll always have at home. Great scotch, interesting enough for a serious scotch drinker but not so challenging that I can't give a pour to some one new to it and not scare them off. And still pretty reasonable pricewise.

[@matthewmorin7016]

Finally a poll that I agree with.

[@alfiemorrison7741]

I wasn't expecting an I Think You Should Leave reference in a Highland scotch video

[@dubltap7216]

Highland Park is my go-to.👍

[@danf321]

I need to buy Deanston, but I have all others in my cabinet staring at me. You asked about flavor profile of Glenmorangie. How about Heather Honey? A light honey/caramel flavor with earthy flavors in the BG. I love all the whisky you mentioned, but on a cooler Fall day, sitting by the fireplace, the Highland Park is the one.

[@matthewreedy4731]

HighlandPark because yum

[@ericamiles2641]

Can you guys do a bunch of Highland Park tastings? It’s my favorite and I wanna know what your tasting notes are.

[@IC86]

I always got peat out of pre-Viking Highland Park 12 (and 18), but I just don’t get it on the newer HPs. I do get the sherry-infused notes and I love HP 12, but I just don’t get the peat anymore. Am I alone in this?

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

Good to see highland park in there. It’s about the maximum of smoke I can stand in a whisky, peat is just not for me (yet at least, keep trying though) and this is perfectly balanced as they said. The rest are great too! Only haven’t had the deanston 12 yet.

[@RAnthis]

I felt the same way until I started adding a splash of say ardbeg into a blended scotch I already enjoyed. Now I really enjoy Islay straight

[@RAnthis]

@@vanq86 I'll have to give it a try

[@lardo666]

Honeysuckle is growing up my shed, here in central England. May well not grow all over the US, but very familiar in England

[@kirbyculp3449]

Grows a lot in the South, hummingbirds love it.

[@mackal]

2014 was when Speyside became official. They should probably just make The Islands official as well.

[@iainjames03]

I think it was 2009 when the three official regions (Lowland, Highland and Speyside) and two localities (Campbeltown and Islay) were agreed - though obviously Speyside has been recognised as an area in it's own right for years. Interesting to note that two of the most quintessentially Speyside-y single malts from that area (Macallan and Glenfarclas) both call themselves 'highland' malts on the label, though. Personally I don't like getting too hung up on regions anyway. There are sufficient outliers in every region and the subtleties of character even within the regions make it impossible to say what to expect from a whisky from that region (with the possible exception of Islay - though even there, if you're expecting punchy medicinal smoke and you get handed a Bunnahabhain 12 or a 'Laddie 10, you won't get that).

[@tillmanmcadams1534]

Always looking for the more viscous and unfiltered… if the ‘legs’ are there and the flavor lingers. Underrates would be Glenfarclas… not over sulfured from trying to recharge casks like others using sherry and more range complexity of flavor if you sit with the 12… malt, dark fruit and some light fruit, slight tobacco (really shows up in the 21) and the taste lingers (the lighter oils … the taste vanishes fast). Highland Park …heather peat… mild taste of the heather in Dalwhinnie.

[@Wesgoodson]

Would like to see the Cambeltown's region reviewed :D

[@PinkyPowers]

Highland Park is soooo goood!

[@marcelpaquet8134]

I love mehr some highland park. My experience with whisky is really limited so far. But I got my self a bottle of highland park spirit of the bear. And I went from I like this to I fucking love it! But you gave me some other nice suggestions so looking forward to try those :D

[@markwald6757]

5. Old Pulteney 15, 4. Oban 14, 3. Deanston 12, 2. Glenmorangie 10, 1. Clynelish 14.

[@brego129]

It's not just the coloring with Dalmore, the 12 year bottling suffers immensely from being watered down to 40%. It's nose is fantastic, but held back, and it's taste can't cash the check that the nose gives you, and the finish is not there. Imagine if it was a 46%, non chill filtered presentation. THAT is why I shit on Dalmore. For the cost, it's presented like an entry level whisky while charging high end for it.

[@calebsteingruber6906]

My personal quintessential Highland malts taking in different styles are the coastal Clynelish 14 and the sherried Glenfarclas 12/15. Islay and Campbeltown have fantastic malts, but these are the 2 I always have from the Highlands.

[@samspetalnick1414]

Clynelish 14 is one of my favorites, definitely like the huge beeswax-ish note. I like malts that have a standout/special flavor like that, where they offer something different from the rest.

[@calebsteingruber6906]

@@samspetalnick1414 absolutely, it's in my top 5, so much going on, I can really spend time with it, but that beeswax note is sure unique

[@andrewbutler7681]

Glenfarclas is in the heart of Speyside, so it doesn't belong in this list any more than Glenfiddich would...

[@calebsteingruber6906]

@@andrewbutler7681 that's true, but they market it as a highland, every speyside is a highland, but not every highland is a speyside...I thought it was more of a stretch to include an Island (HP)

[@Bergerac82]

Have to agree with Andrew, Glenfarclas is a quintessentially Speyside whisky. Fruit forward malt turned into sherry bomb is as Speyside as it gets.

[@normlang1994]

HP12 is the best value on this list, IMO. Glenmorangie, a close 2nd.

[@j.g.6601]

It's a decent list, though I'm not sure I'd rank them that way. In no particular order, my 5 "classics" would be: Glengoyne 12 Arran 10 Clynelish 14 Gledronach 15 Tamdhu 12

[@sharkretired2358]

Ok. Just a thought.... Maybe a list of what beer and a whiskey (scotch, bourbon, whatever you drink) paired together, while also paired with a cigar? What are the tribes super combo?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Any fans of Glencadam here? That's my top Highland distillery.

[@eddeppenbrook4188]

Yes sir, love Glencadam! I have the 10,15,& 21

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

@@eddeppenbrook4188 Amazing!

[@jamesangus7253]

Classic Highland whisky but no mention of Clynelish or Blair Athol.... How did that happen? Glenmorangie is as light as paper.

[@dmshampton]

I really do think they should make the Islands an official category. I think while it’s a little broad, they are generally distinct enough from Highland to warrant the separation.

[@adhominemsis-t.australisensis]

Clynelish 14 has to be there. I would get rid of the Dalmore. Glengoyne for the sherried highlander experience. Also love Ben Nevis 10.

[@Shoutinthewind]

Love Highland Park

[@josephmyers8826]

great I Think You Should Leave reference

[@johnlambert5732]

Oban 14 my favourite

[@runswithcows]

For me, a tiny drop of water in an Oban releases a whole world of flavours but I smoke cigarettes so what do I know.

[@30Huckleberry]

Glenmorangie is an excellent dessert.

[@Beardmire]

The glenmorangie 10 I have just taste of soap... a type of soap we have in sweden called "green soap". Maybe something wrong with it?

[@dannygonzalez6548]

Just realized Dry Week is OVERRR 🙌🏽🥃CHEERS 🥃

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

0:20 Grade-A comedy. Thank you to both Dans(iel)

[@kanishkkumar9181]

Watching from Delhi India 🙏

[@scottbandy4070]

Glenfarclas 12 and Aberfeldy 12 for me

[@nateKaemingk]

Love the Glenmorangie... "perfected by the 16 bad-asses of Tain"

[@ccjacks3]

Oban 14 is incredible

[@MrZamboni66]

The 14 is priced a little above my typical budget so I suffice with Little Bay

[@tylerferrell2959]

glenmorangie nectar d'or

[@andrewbutler7681]

Glad to see Oban on the list, but I would probably have chosen Royal Lochnagar or Glen Ord as quintessential Highland.

[@TheWhiskyBaron]

Good choices Andrew

[@freakybastard]

Ben Nevis is my favourite Highland but it's so hard to get....

[@YoJimBo851610]

I brought an Ardbeg to a party and someone asked whats that? I said a whisky. They said Oh you like that dark liquor. I pour it. They said WhAT?!?! Thats not dark!!!!😸😸😸😸😸

[@iainjames03]

Maybe not dark in colour - tastes like an oil fire ripping through a gothic cemetery, though! That's pretty dark...

[@Randy-rs1cg]

Can we have the "Hands Guy" have a cut scene handling the bottles when their announced

[@Qub3rs]

YAY... they're back... A week seemed way too long...

[@ApothecaryTerry]

Glenmorangie is nice, but I definitely wouldn't put it number 1 on this list since it's so far on that honeyed, light (and clearly speyside!) end of the highland spectrum. Talisker is my favourite "highland" whisky but I'd probably put Pulteney at the top of this list. ...and yeah I have a highland whisky tour booked next year, having already done Islay and speyside, with Glenmorangie on the highland one...but that's not the point ☺

[@daveoneill3623]

Fantastic 🇮🇪🥃👍

[@kanishkkumar9181]

Lovely

[@dementus420]

This channel is great while imbibing. Gotta try #1.

[@jasonvenesky2438]

Highland Park has all the region tastes to me.

[@karl_alan]

Woohoo, another list related to what goes on that wall

[@iainjames03]

I'd have to disagree with Glenmorangie having 'weight' compared to the likes of a Speyside. I've always found Glenmorangie to be a delicate, honeyed, almost candied whisky with not a lot of body. And certainly their manufacture supports this - they proudly boast of having some of the tallest, narrowest stills in Scotland, meaning much greater reflux and a lot of the hefty, 'meaty' flavour molecules and oily texture molecules will be much less likely to make it into the cut. That's not to say it doesn't deserve to be on the list - just that I'd argue it doesn't represent that theory that highland malts are heavier and 'meatier'. Stick it next to a Glenfarclas or an Aberlour and it's like comparing lemon mousse to christmas cake.

[@avtarbaidwan3076]

I like glenmorangie ..🥃

[@jacobyonke5064]

Man, i would love to sit at that table

[@CharlesOffdensen]

3:30 I tried a very cheap Spanish brandy and a rum that have sooo much caramel. It changes the taste, a lot! To the point where you can't taste anything else. And e150 tastes bad.

[@jaybird4834]

Welcome to Saturday.

[@unclemikiesworld]

Rex's beard is looking down right coiffed

[@karl_alan]

Y'all...island is a separate category. Drink highland park if you want, but if island is part of highland, you might as well say there's only two categories: highland & islay

[@iainjames03]

and lowland... Though I agree, it's a little odd to include the islands as 'highlands' - not least because Speyside is slap-bang in the middle of the Scottish highlands, geographically. But then the island whiskies are so disparate anyway - Talisker is totally different from Arran, flavour-wise. Even comparing HP to the gone-but-not-forgotten Scapa 10 made barely 2 miles down the road is like comparing apples to oranges. Basically the regions *_should_* be Speyside, Islay, Lowland, maybe Campbeltown and then 'Everywhere-else-in-Scotland'

[@karl_alan]

@@iainjames03 I can agree with that. I kinda got the feeling on this that even though Rex has clarified that it's not a highland every time they've drank it on camera, enough people had not been paying attention & saw highland in the name that it got voted high anyway & they didn't want to offend anyone who voted it up by excluding what would have been the #2 from the list.

[@deeshmond]

These might be the most classic Highlands but the best one imo is Glengoyne!

[@MrPokemonisawesome]

ayyeee deanston, thats near my house but its not made in the highlands lol

[@great207]

Deanston and Clynelish are very good

[@Charlesb88]

You should do a Tribe-made list of the best Whisky not made in America, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, or Japan. So basically European, Indian, South American, African, Caribbean, whatever.

[@Tigerblade11238]

I can confirm, hello fresh is good stuff

[@robsalvv5853]

Deanston 12 is the only one that has eluded landing on my shelves - best I go do some kungfu! :)

[@ronaldsabourin8835]

I get kind of a Creamsicle note from Glenmorangie.

[@Tantrum777]

Shocked Clynelish did not make the list!

[@Alex-zi1nb]

need to wear a wedding band with all the wife references!!!!!!!

[@taberzak7587]

I dunno about super regional, but I’m from Canada and I’m about as familiar with honeysuckle as I am with alligators

[@rossfudd256]

Anyone know what DSP-TX-20093 stands for. Rex said but it got bleeped.

[@rubbaslippaz]

It's the distilled spirits producer number for Crowded Barrel Alliance Series - Ironroot Republic

[@justal4844]

So assume that Glengoyne is a lowland whiskey? I understand it's made in the Highlands, but matured in the Lowlands? Anyway, it should be on one of these lists; FABU stuff !

[@iainjames03]

No i think it classes itself as a highland - at least on the label. But then so do Macallan and Glenfarclas and they're as Speyside as you can get!

[@bentwalls736]

Pretty sure I learned from Daniel that scotch laws prohibit coloring (E150). What’s up?

[@tomstevelt9641]

The Highland looked pretty dark too, does it have E150?

[@aragathor]

Not according to the label.

[@khoanguyen-fc4jw]

My friends and I failed the Oban 14.

[@wildrandomness]

Ooh I just got back to watching Whiskey Tribe and I chanced a good one