Rock Oyster Blended Malt

Holy sh*t this is delicious. Finally cracked this bottle after many many months slumbering in the vice closet and I am regretting my patience. Nearly exquisite sweet peat. Lemon vanilla salty smoke. Green apple. Cream. Belies the proof. Very much on the sweet end but executed extremely well. Hopefully the rebrand did not affect the component parts in any substantive way.

Briny

Peppery mid, meaty, earthy, but negatively dry 2.5 light blend, low pep, woody, 2.25 wood, oak, mid pep, earthy 2.5 2.25 Sharp vvvv sharp, sourness, dryness 0.25 Light flavour , sweet, caramel, vanilla, Low spicy 3 No peat, slightly woody 2.5 1.5

Nose: Brine and smoke are both wonderfully integrated here, swirling together into a wonderful combination. Green apples, toasted grains, honey. Soft vanilla and cream character are buried in there, as well, with a touch of mango. There's a slightly herbal character that's perfuming things - almost like walking past rosemary and thyme plants. Toasted cumin, too. Palate: The brine sits back and allows the smoke to come forward. The apples, grains, honey, fruits, etc. are all there. This isn't big, in-your-face character. Much more subdued and balanced. Vanilla whipped cream with some orange blossom water and a sprig of mint. This is all middle and back palate, along with an interesting bitterness on the sides. Light mouthfeel. Finish: Lemon-lime soda, sea spray, and mint. Smoke and just a hint of oak come in - that bitterness is still on the sides of my tongue. That vanilla and cream combo are back, and we fade out with pops of brine, mint, smoke, cream, and vanilla. Black tea shows up at the very tail end. Medium-short length. Other notes: Comparatively tame when placed against my usual cask strength fare, the subtlety and nuance here is really enjoyable. The belnding here is excellent but doesn't bury any of the components too much. You can definitely get the signature Highland Park black pepper/black tea, for instance. This would make a good middle-of the road introduction to the world of peat and brine, and would pair excellently with lighter fare. While not something I'll feel compelled to have in my home bar at all times, this is definitely something I could see myself buying again for the sheer enjoyment. Cheers!