Maltnation
Highland Park 12 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 18, 2017 (edited August 29, 2017)
OK OK, I know it's not the vaunted 18 yo, but I'm excited to try my first Highland Park. The color is a lovely amontillado sherry color., not surprising considering Highland park exclusively uses sherry casks. On the nose I get heather, honey, vanilla sugar and barley water. A big dose of salt on the palette, then pineapple and pepper, heather. Don't know if it's just my bottle but the salt is too much. There's some honey and a bit of smoke. Overall not a bad dram but not my favourite. I'll have to move on to the 18 yo and hope it can rescue the brand.
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Have a bottle of the 18 that I'm going to crack open this year I'm thinking..hopefully a good experience :-)
I will leave the bottle for a few weeks and try again. It hopefully just needs to breath. I worry about the direction of whisky at the moment. There were two golden ages prior to the current boom and they both ended. Gimmicks can't cover mediocre product.
You're so right. Instead of spending money on marketing and design, spend it on the actual liquid.
Despite its attractive design, it's too bad that the new version is bottled at an anaemic 40% ABV instead of the good old 43% ABV. Otherwise, I find this whisky mellows out pretty nicely once the bottle has been opened for some time. I've no doubt you'll appreciate the 18-Year. Cheers!