Which 18-year whisky would you pick (or skip)?

[Herr der Verboten]

I’m looking at a bottle in the Glenfiddich 18 sort of range and want to keep the comparison to proper 18-year options.

The question is not just which bottle has the biggest name, but which one gives the best overall drinking experience for the money. Glenfiddich 18 is the safe benchmark here: smooth, familiar, balanced and easy to recommend. But there are a few other 18s that might offer more character depending on the style.

Highland Park 18 seems like the more complex option, with honey, spice, dried fruit and a touch of smoke. Aberlour 18 is the richer, sweeter, more sherry-driven option. Glenmorangie 18 looks like the elegant and smooth Highland choice. Glenlivet 18 is probably the closest clean Speyside alternative to Glenfiddich 18.

So, if you were choosing one bottle, which would you pick?

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Edit
its done: ordered the Bunnahabhain 18 - was hard to find though.

 

[Smiggles]

Other: Bain's

 

[Herr der Verboten]

Other: Bain's

thanks, will have a look

 

[TheMightyQuin]

Deanston

Arran

Bunnahabhain

...beats all on your list easily.

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Don't think I've ever consumed anything that old

Accept maybe the water in the taps.

 

[Spizz]

Don't think I've ever consumed anything that old

Accept maybe the water in the taps.

Username checks out.

 

[N@t3]

Macallan 18-Year-Old Virgen

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Macallan 18-Year-Old Virgen

What makes it Virgen?

 

[N@t3]

What makes it Virgen?

lol when you dont break the seal.

 

[Lupus]

I haven't had any alcohol in almost 6 years now, but when I did drink Whisky those were all pretty good in their own ways, I did a whisky distillery tour in Scotland 18 years ago, so some of those were being casked when I was there. Glen Morangie was the one where they used cute girls as their tour guides, Famous Grouse was more serious, Glenn Fiddich was pretty decent as well, BenRiach we had our own tour

 

[Binary_Bark]

I like my whisky old enough to order its own whisky.

 

[HocusPocusFM]

From the poll, Glenlivet... although pricey Macallan is delicious as is the Arbelour 18 if you can find the Sherry cask:

My goto in Cape Town when shopping, often good specials:

You searched for 18 year | Woodstock Liquors

woodstockliquors.co.za

 

[Spizz]

From the poll, Glenlivet... although pricey Macallan is delicious as is the Arbelour 18 if you can find the Sherry cask:

My goto in Cape Town when shopping, often good specials:

You searched for 18 year | Woodstock Liquors

woodstockliquors.co.za

I steer well clear of Macallan as seriously overpriced and overhyped. .

 

[Herr der Verboten]

Deanston

Arran

Bunnahabhain

...beats all on your list easily.

Does that include preference order?

 

[hellfire]

Glendronach

 

[W@P]

 

[Sir Bob]

Glenlivet 18 would skip find it tasteless for that price.

 

[Spizz]

Chivas 18 is also a great choice if you are not looking specifically for a single malt. Good bang for buck at about R1,700 although it does go on special offer at PnP for R1,200 now and again.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

My ultimate whisky is poured down the drain and replaced with something a bit more palatable.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

My ultimate whisky is poured down the drain and replaced with something a bit more palatable.

Not sure whiskey aged in drain would make acceptable offering and gift.