Highland Park 15 Years Old (40%, OB, 2017)

• Category: Island single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Highland Park Distillery
• Bottling: Edrington
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £80.29

What they say:

15 year old single malt from Orkney’s Highland Park Distillery, which was re-released in 2016. Dig in to waves of coastal smoke and Sherried peels, with a good core of barley to follow it up.

Nose: Orange and lemon peels, joined by sea breeze and vanilla custard.

Palate: Smoke begins light and coastal, develops throughout with a hint of well-toasted malt. Sultanas and redcurrants sit beneath it.

Finish: Long-lasting smoky elements.

What I say:

The 15 year old expression from Highland Park despite it’s re-release in 2016 is no longer to be found in their new Viking inspired range re-design.

Colour:

Dark amber bronze (12/20) medium-fine tears leave fine legs

Nose:

Sweet heather honey, floral then cider apples, malty beer, yeasty bread, fruity apple and pear, hints of heather, peat, sea salt/spray, beeswax, leather, peach skin, citrus peel, vanilla and cinnamon dusted Danish pastries

Taste:

Smooth and sweet, heather honey, malty cereal barley, yeasty bread and beer, full-bodied, oily and buttery in taste and texture, unctuous on the palate, a slightly peaty tang is enhanced with a sprinkling of smoked sea salt, leathery, tannic old wood and ropes alongside baked orchard fruits; apple, pear and cherry

Finish:

Long, tannic, peaty, heather honey combine with rich and sweet cereal notes

Overall:

Deliciously sweet heather honey, malt and tannic oak combine with wispy peat smoke and coastal salt to enhance the baked fruit nature of this expression. One to take time over, a lot of time!

Score: 90/100

Don’t take my word for it:

Read TOModera’s Whisky Review of Highland Park 15

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