Highland Park 15 Year

The pre 2018 variety (black and green label) used to be my favorite scotch. Since then, starting with Viking Heart and the newest iteration the quality has gone downhill and the price has gone up dramatically. Its truely a shame. Its still an alrigt dram but not worth the price tag.

This dram has an amber color and it feels and looms like a light body whisky. For this to be a 15 years old finished on PX cask, its too light on the eyes. Given the ABV is 40%, the addition of water reduced the whisky to a color and viscosity that doesn’t tell the full story. On the nose - A mix of apple pie, honey, dry fruits and a bit of tobacco. It’s a bit smoky, but overwhelmed by sherry notes that brings it to the tobacco note. On the palate - it could have a lot of potential on a higher ABV. 40% is too low to manifest all that you get on the nose. It’s a bit smokey, a bit sweet, hints of sherry and cinnamon comes in the end. But it’s a pity that it’s so light on ABV. The flavors disappear really fast. Scotch brands are losing big by bottling above 12 years with such a low ABV. They will lose space to new distilleries bring bottles above 45%.

My only complaint isn't a fair one, but it is the reason for the rating. The older age statement ones are night and day better.