Highland Park Aged 25 Years

Style: Sweet and Complex

Rating: ☆☆- [Highly Recommended]

Nose:

Soft boiling vanilla and assorted dry spice wrapping gently around the fragrant, whispering heather. Delicate but vibrant lemon citrus highlighting the tartness from the oak, superbly balanced. Layers of tropical fruits, aloe vera and cranberries setting up at the core. The shawl of red fruits cloaking and then lifting away from the malt. Honey, minerals, black pepper and red chilli sides trailing at the end.

Palate:

Delicate touchdown of cranberries and floral honeyed malt. All the elements are closely weaved and orchestrated by the subtle yet commanding sherry. Aloe vera, a quick tropical fruits flick, then abundant dry spices gearing up to form a rather strong American oak-esque influence - white pepper, vanilla pods, nutmeg and wood shavings. Red cherries riding on the reverse tide and surfing in among the cinnamon dust. Another tropical citrus ping at the end with an oaky tang.

Finish:

More cinnamon, nutmeg and other dry spices. Light tropical fruits combined with the heather malt, a beautiful red fruits finish.

Thoughts:

Astonishing amount of elements at play and contributing, putting a performance together like an orchestra, the versatility, space for interpretation and complexity created is simply incredible with Highland Park. This time we have sherry and oak taking the reins, while the distillate and fruitiness slotted into support casts, they form a rather sweet and cohesive expression with nuances running underneath. Perhaps a bit too much American oak presence for my taste, but it is still an exceptional piece.

[45.7% | Original Bottling | Non Chill Filtered | Bar Code: 5010314300074 | circa 2018 | **-]

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