islay_emissary
Highland Park 18 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
September 8, 2018 (edited October 10, 2022)
We took a Saturday off during our golf trip to attend the world’s largest arts festival held in Edinburgh. It runs for 25 days every year in the month of August. The Royal Mile was packed with people and street performances for its entire stretch. Looming above the festivities was Edinburgh Castle. Considered one of Scotland’s most important strongholds for over a millennium, this structure holds the title for the most besieged fortress in all of Great Britain with over two dozen power struggles to its credit. After a hectic day we found a great old bar and restaurant called Café Royal, and an ideal setting for a Highland Park 18. Years ago, in my search for the perfect dram, I must have consumed a bottle of HP 12 & 18, since I still have their containers in my box collection. At one time, I thought these whisky boxes made for good garage trophies, but as the collection has grown I now see them as potential evidence in divorce proceedings (only kidding honey! 😊). Furthermore, a Distiller rating of 99 and rave reviews from the site’s intelligentsia (yes, you guys), prompted another taste. The dram did not disappoint. A restrained and elegant nose lit up my smile. I knew it was a good one before the first taste, and I could still recall @cascode ‘s comparisons to heaven and his envious poetry. Subtle was the theme for this whisky and the thought that less is sometimes more. Subtle peat, mild fruitiness, a touch of nuttiness, a twist honey, a tad of spiciness, a bit of this, a smidge of that, and a smooth and harmonious composition of perfection. 5 stars and the promise that I will someday lay siege to the isles of Orkney to experience this whisky firsthand.
120.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@cascode @ScotchingHard - I try to keep no more than 7-8 bottles open at any given time. I’m currently down to 4- one of which happens to be the new HP18 Viking Pride. Sadly, it pales in comparison to what I remember about the old 18yo.
@PBMichiganWolverine - That’s good bottle management. I’m somewhere between 40 and 50 open whiskies.
@cascode I have 5 open ..but 500 unopened, if that helps your justification...
@cascode I have ~50 open bottles now, if that helps with your conscience. Justification is not needed, but it is there, because it's cheaper than going to a pub or tasting.
@Rick_M Tell me about it - I have about 60 bottles waiting to be tasted but I have to get through the 18 that are open before I can justify cracking another. Then there's the 10 open mezcals, the 6 open rums, the 8 open gins ...
@Generously_Paul, don’t feel bad. I have two of these unopened in stock and had to go to Scotland to try it. Way too many open bottles at the moment. :)
Once again I am asking myself why I haven’t opened mine yet. Fantastic review sir.
Great review as always and grear dram. Highland Park has shot to be in my top several distilleries based on recent tastings
@LeeEvolved take a week off next spring ...do it, go for a Scotland trip, whisky and golf. And this winter, do Christmas in Austria. Beer, Linzer cookies, and mulled wine.
@LeeEvolved - patience grasshopper. You’re still a young dude. :)
You and your tales of birdies, castles and 5 star drams has once again made me realize how incomplete my life is. Great job. Lol