Highland Park 21 Years Old (47.5%, OB, 2016)
- Category: Island single malt scotch whisky
- Origin: Highland Park Distillery
- Bottling: Edrington
- ABV: 47.5%
- Cost: £142.72
What they say:
Drawing its incredible character from predominantly American oak casks which have been seasoned with sherry, our 21 year old is a truly dynamic whisky, with an intensely fruity and spicy centre, surrounded by complex layers of candied orange peel, dark chocolate and rich, slightly drier smoke. It is a malt whisky that rewards patience and delivers an experience like no other.
Tasting Notes
Colour:
Natural colour, reddish gold Orkney sunset
Nose:
Butterscotch, dark chocolate and orange
Palate:
Full flavour, candied orange peel with spicy dark chocolate leading to a rich smoky sensation
Finish:
Rich, complex, sweet smoky sensation then soft medium dry
What I say:
The final ‘special’ dram from the #TheDramTeam twitter tasting was this Highland Park 21 Years Old. Drawn from a bottle at £150+ a small shot of this ultra-special liquid represents the finishing flurry from The Dram Team’s inaugural tasting pack based around the scotch malt whisky regions and it is well worth the wait I can assure you!
Colour:
Copper amber (7/20) quick but well-defined medium-to-fine tapered legs
Nose:
Sweet apples, crisp green apple, rosey apple sweeties, brut Normandy cider, flock, chamois leather, heather honey, vanilla essence, cocoa, toffee, butterscotch
Taste:
Smooth toffee and honey, subtle chocolate sauce, heather honey, malty cereal barley, apple crumble, wisp of peat smoke
Finish:
Medium-long, heather honey, wispy peat smoke, vanilla essence, drying and moreish
Overall:
Reserved and very classy, this has a graceful refined nature which rewards teasing out the subtleties across the palate. Tastes well-made, superbly structured in body and characteristics, there are just the faintest hints of smoke and heather which make this unmistakably Highland Park at its finest.
Score: 89/100
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Categories: Highland Park, Island
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