Tastes

Nose: Dried fruits and floral notes rise very smoothly. A bit too delicate for me but still, a good nose. Delicate smoke along with toffee. Not the best part but I ain't complaining either. Taste: The palate is very rich and creamy. Offering oranges, toffee and honey, along with lingering oak. There's some sharp, yet subtle smoke lurking on the back. That smoke follows you in the finish as well, coming from the depths. Finish: Round and spicy with a great long finish. Rich finish, that you could chew on forever. Honey and peat make the main attraction. Then there's that deep smoke raising steadily from the background. Salty smoke with licorice, feels like salmiac (Finnish national treat). Highland Park 18 year old review by WhiskyRant! Logo of Highland Park Balance: Rich flavors, complexity, good balance – soft nose being a bit of an exception.

Nose: Starts off with sweet and heavy apricot marmalade and fruity liqueur, which turns into chalk licorice. Wee smoke is there too. Taste: Crispy and full. Thick and sweet, like jam. Occasionally bitter. Green apples, tropical fruits and hints of lemon. Bit of oak and vanilla as well. Finish: Dry and crispy, like bitter orange marmalade with spices and little bit of ginger. Balance: Rich, thick and freshly fruity dram. Good single malt from the great Speyside distillery.

Nose: Very sharp and stays that way quite a long time. Delicate fruits with vibrant and very dry oak and ginger. Fruits turn into berries with a fresh, salty air breeze on the back. Taste: Dryness is strong again, with some sugary notes. Dry and bitter lingonberries along with sweet marmalade and cinnamon. Wee smoke in the background... Finish: Remains dry and sweet. Bit of spices as well but the finish is way too quick. Balance: Little bit of complexity and some lack of aftertaste. Surprisingly good, having some character even though it's a vatted malt of 10 different distilleries. A whisky journey with force, even for skeptics.

Nose: Without water it's peppery hot. Mahogany and maple, waxy honey and corn. Floral notes rise from the back. Taste: Very thick and velvety oily. Syrupy, sweet and sour. Warming cinnamon, strong rye and black pepper. Finish: Strong, warming spices, oak and oil. Bitter, dark chocolate. Balance: Burning, yet pleasant straight bourbon whiskey from Kentucky. In great balance, offering sour, spicy and sweet enjoyment all the way!

Batch of their 4 year old rye whiskey: Nose: Strong, yet fragrant. Smoothly spicy rye mixed with maple syrup. Sweet vanilla completes the nose. Taste: Dry oak hits ya good! Full and very warming with spices – cinnamon and nutmeg. Smooth rye and dark sugary vanilla take care of the tender side. Let it breathe, it keeps on getting better and better. Finish: Long and warming, spicy with black pepper. Dark and bit fruity sweet. Minty aftertaste comes very late. Balance: Powerful, yet smooth. Spicy, yet silky. Tastes good even without water even though it has 55% alcohol per volume. Excellent straight rye whiskey.

Nose: Stingy and sour rye develops into sweet, sugary rye. Hints of corn and fruity notes. Taste: Rough and bitter rye with spices. Gets smoother and sweeter with time. Turns into gingery rye. Finish: Like sour and mildly spicy rye bread. Pepper rises nicely very late in the aftertaste. Balance: Harsh at first but when given time, this straight rye whiskey becomes decent.

Nose: Malted barley similar to beer, then fresh barley and fruits. Floral notes at the end. Fresh, vibrant and dark. Taste: Oil makes a velvet entrance on your palate, then turns into coal smoke. Vanilla, nuts, fruits and toffee. Finish: Creamy, with oak and fruits. Deep smoke in the aftertaste. Balance: Deep, dark and velvety tones coming through in every step of the tasting. Great single malt whisky from Japan.

Nose: Sharp and pungent with herbs and floral grainy notes. Bit fruity in a stingy way. Taste: Has it turned smoother over the years or has my mouth started to get some numbness from all the whisky I've tasted? Watery and light but spices and vanilla are there, and some botanical notes. Finish: Bitter oak and burning spices. Very pointy rough finish. Balance: Feels like it's smoother, than what it used to be but still, a watery blended scotch whisky.

Nose: Strong but sophisticated smoke (Caol Ila style), then comes rubbery peat. Bit medicinal and fruity. Water adds pepper. Empty glass smells like gunpowder, nice! Taste: Botanical notes with sweet and heavy peat. Bit fruity as well. Water sweetens and softens the palate even more. Finish: Dry oak, warming and burning peat lingers well in the aftertaste. Water brings out pepper. Balance: Nicely balanced vatted malt. Pretty straight forward but good dram.

Nose: Spices, peat, honey and vanilla, bourbon kind of nose, the peat stays more on the back. Hints of lime in the mix. Taste: The taste stays very thin. Notes of grass and citrus, lightly salty with peat. Finish: Spicy and bit dry. With hints of lime again. Wee peat smoke. Balance: Probably the first Islay whisky, that is so light in every way? I'm not talking only about the lack of smoke or peat. Bunnahabhain has done it already and still their whiskies tend to have character. I think, that this Bowmore has not. Bigger alcohol per volume level would've made this more forceful.