Tastes

It was the let down of the night (11 whiskies total). Not the worst of them but the expectations were very high for this one. => Tasting it again today, I completely changed my mind about it, maybe because my palate was worn the other day after tasting other 10 whiskyes (this one was the last), maybe because it opened a little bit or just maybe because today I'm alone and not influencied by my friends' opinions. On the nose I can smell smoked pork with some sweet vanilla background. It kind of reminds me of Rauchbier (that I simply adore) and it is a subtle but lovely nose! :) No sign of alcohol here in spite of the 57,2 abv. On the palate the peat hits hard along with some serious barrel spices, but as a lover of Talisker, I dig some spice! ;) Some citrus sweetness on the background. The finish is spicy and linger for some time... Yeah, I like it! Still don't think it deserves the 94 and whisky of the year that it got from the APP but also not by any chance a let down. A solid 90 points for me and changing my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Cheers!

So... I have chosen a special whisky on a special day to write my first review. Today I have turned 40 and so Highland Park 40 seemed as the perfect whisky to celebrate the date. Don't have the $$$$ to afford a whole bottle so review was made on a sample I brought back from a tasting me and my girlfriend did this year at the distillery. On the nose I can strangely pick a strong brine note with a mellow but pleasant sweet sherry background of dark ripe fruits. Kind of reminded me a lot of Talisker 30 but not as refined. Just a little bit of gentle peat and no smoke. On the palate the brine and sweet sherry give way to peat (come back from the dead) and lots, and I mean lots of Barrel Spices. On the finish the brine is back, now more salty, and there is also a strong astringency (dryness) feeling, probably from the long contact with the wood tannins. Not a bad whisky in any way but if you compare it to the 30 and specially the 25, that are more than amazing and cost SO less money, I would not say it is a wise buy. A four star if you don't take the price into account. Otherwise a 3 stars (barely).