washeewashee_reviews
Highland Park The Dark 17 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
March 5, 2019 (edited December 18, 2019)
Nose - (w/o water) Light smoke, white wine like sweetness, dark stone fruit syrup (w/ water) Opens up quite a bit more, dark cocoa nibs come out, mixes with a dark sweet sherry, hint of leather
Taste - (w/o water) Sweet white pepper tingle, light orange zest, light smoke, sweet lightly bitter dark stone fruits, tannic/bitter dark chocolate (w/ water) Tingle is gone, light orange zest, drying dark cocoa nibs, less sweet dark stone fruits, smoke is almost gone.
Finish - (w/o water) Lingering warmth, light fruity tannic bitter, charred citrus pith bitter, drying bitter dark cocoa nibs (w/ water) More quickly fading, fruity bitter orange/cherry/dark chocolate, cocoa nib bitter, light smoke re-appears at the very very end.
Score - 81/100
Final Thoughts - I didn't know what to expect with this one but I was expecting a bit more character out of this one. I got nice hints of sweet dark stone fruits on the nose, but it was quite muted. Some water opened up the nose quite nicely. Once it hit the palate it was a bit hot, the dominating flavor profile was this lightly sweet but very drying and tannic dark cocoa nib flavor that was a bit distracting from the sweet dark stone fruits I was expecting. Luckily I do enjoy dark cocoa nibs, but I wouldn't imagine that should be the dominating flavor. Overall it was tasty, but just not very well balanced.
Would I drink it if offered? - Yes
Would I specifically order it? - No
Would I buy a bottle? - No
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