Highland Park 1989 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 32 yo

 

 

 

51,9°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

Refill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Lightly Peated

 

 

 

Within the Connoisseurs Choice range, we sometimes come across treasures, like this one, a 32-year-old Highland Park matured in a Sherry Refill Butt. I tasted it about 18 months after its release, and was surprised to find that there were still some of the 347 bottles on sale. When I saw the price, I understood.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A subtle and delicate nose, with light iodine, orchard fruits, slightly tart apples, ripe pears, juicy peaches, heather and bushes. A few drops of honey, a dash of vanilla, salted butter caramel, cut hay, and almost imperceptible smoke. Hazelnuts. Oily on the palate, the vanilla becomes stronger, dried fruits, sultanas and bananas, spices that are very present, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and a very long, almost perfect finish, with salted biscuits, clover, peppermint, a hint of genoise, crème fraîche with vanilla.

 

In Short, 

A very successful Highland Park, at the top I would say, where the Sherry remains discreet, adding just a little sweetness and fruitiness. Here we have the true identity of this distillery, not at all hampered by ageing, but on the contrary enhanced by it. All aficionados should pounce on it, but when you see the price, you can understand their hesitation.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Velvet Meadow - I See Blue