63,9°
Distillery : Highland Park - Islands
Sherry Seasoned European Casks and American Ex-Bourbon Barrels
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2021
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 20 ppm
In 2020, master distiller Gordon Motion launched the first edition of this new, original cask strength bottling. It proved a great success. While this first attempt was rumoured to be fairly close to 12 years old, the second batch launched in 2021, which I am tasting tonight, is said to be 13 years old and more Sherry-focused. The third, to be launched in 2022, is expected to be younger and smokier.
Let's Taste It :
A dense forest, with heather, berries, blackberries, ferns, fresh bark, thyme, basil and rich earth. A campfire in the distance. It's a pine forest, with needles everywhere, and beautiful pine cones falling. The peat is relatively light compared to the intensity of the spices and dried fruits, apricots, bananas and prunes. As we get closer to the campfire, we can smell the soot and charcoal. With the addition of water, the smoke awakens. In the background, iodine. Salted butter caramel. Very full on the palate, warm at first, with red fruits, gooseberries, raspberries, then the spices come, very strong, pepper, cumin. The finish continues in the same vein, quite aggressive but also very long, woody, carbonated, sparkling, cola, ginger.
In Short,
At last, an original bottling worthy of this great distillery. For me, it's a total success, the flavour, the character, the complexity and the typical hallmarks are there to make this a whisky that every enthusiast must have. What's more, the price is fair. Don't hesitate, go for it. Be careful, you need a few drops of water to open it.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Noisettes - Don't Give Up
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