Last Updated on: 8th April 2024, 01:26 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
Compare Bunnahabhain 12 and Highland Park 12 in-depth and choose your preferred Single Malt through this direct comparison.
Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Written by: J Highland
Bunnahabhain 12 vs Highland Park 12: Comparison
- Bunnahabhain 12 is celebrated for its smooth, creamy texture and subtle peatiness, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking a gentle introduction to Islay whiskies. It’s distinguished by its light smoke, raisin, prune, and cocoa on the nose, with a palate of sherry, red fruit, and oak spice, finishing with roasted nuts and oak spice.
- Highland Park 12, on the other hand, offers a unique balance of floral sweetness with a hint of smoke, positioning itself as an intermediary between peaty and non-peaty Scotch. It features floral, smoke, orange, and honey on the nose, cereal, orange, green tea, and smoke on the palate, with a long finish of oak and pepper, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Related: 12-Year Scotch Best Selections
Bunnahabhain 12
- Nose: Light smoke, raisin, prune, cocoa.
- Palate: Sherry, red fruit, oak spice.
- Finish: Medium, roasted nuts, oak spice.
- Alcohol Content: 92 proof (46% ABV).
- How to Drink: Best enjoyed with a splash of water.
- Price: $63 (Approximately, may vary).
Highland Park 12
- Nose: Floral, smoke, orange, honey.
- Palate: Cereal, orange, green tea, smoke.
- Finish: Long, oak, pepper.
- Alcohol Content: 86 proof (43% ABV).
- How to Drink: Enhances with a bit of water.
- Price: $60 (Approximately, may vary).
Verdict
- For a Softer Islay Experience: Bunnahabhain 12 is an excellent starting point, offering a milder peat presence and a welcoming profile.
- For a Balance of Sweetness and Smoke: Highland Park 12 is ideal for those looking to explore a whisky that captures the essence of both Speyside’s sweetness and Islay’s smokiness.
Both whiskies excel in their respective niches, with Bunnahabhain 12 providing a softer touch of Islay’s renowned peat and Highland Park 12 delivering a balanced experience that can appeal to a broad range of palates.
Your preference for either will depend on your taste for peat and the complexity you desire in your Scotch whisky.