AntonioSchmid
Highland Park 40 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 21, 2018 (edited June 15, 2022)
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).
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@AntonioSchmid - yes, I know; I’ve golfed many of them. :) @cascode - Airplanes are too easy. I find a little pain and suffering always makes for a better trip. :)
@cascode I had only 3 nights on Orkney so unfortunately I didn't have time enough for all islands :( Next time for sure! Thanks for the tip. :-)
Oh - good review, too. I agree the 40 year old is good but 18 and 25 are the magic ages for HP as far as I'm concerned.
@Rick_M Not that hard nowdays - Loganair has several daily flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow (but there's definitely no golf by that route :-) @AntonioSchmid Hoy is amazing - so is Rousay. You can barely take 2 steps in any direction without finding either a breathtaking view or an archaeological site. I'd seriously consider retiring there but it does get just a little windy :-)
@Rick_M I took the "hard" way. Drove all the way up there through the northwest single track roads and then took the ferry. Man it is worth the effort. Jaw dropping vistas all the way. When in Orkney, you MUST take the ferry to Hoy and walk to see the Old Man of Hoy. It's just incredible. Unfortunately I can't help you with the golf courses but I'm pretty sure there are plenty all over Scotland.
@AntonioSchmid - Well done! No easy task trying to get up to the Orkney isles. They’re on my bucket list. Did you happen to notice any golf courses along the way? :)
@Slainte-Mhath Couldn't agree more that 'older is not automatically better'. Can think of many examples but on this specific tasting I would rank them like this: Way above the others the 25 followed closely by the 30. Then the 18, 40, 21, 15 and at last the 12.
Interesting review, and probably a good example that 'older is not automatically better'. I am quite satisfied with my HP25, although even the price of this bottle was hard to justify. Not to speak of HP30 or 40, these bottles are way beyond of what I am willing to pay for a fine Single Malt. There are simply too much cheaper and better alternatives!