
August 14, 2018

One Highland Park and two more

There’s more and more ‘Orkney whiskies’ around, and consequently, less indie Highland Parks. But it is my understanding that this is all only a matter of labelling.

Highland Park 16 yo ‘Wings of the Eagles’ (44.5%, OB, travel retail, 2018)

More Viking stuff by dear HP, and I say why not? Even if the pack says that this is ‘spicy and elegant’, which sounds hardly Viking (when seen from France). Colour: gold. Nose: very HP, I would say, starting a wee bit spirity but getting then minerally honeyed and smokingly heathery, while notes of ale, marmalade and custard are roaming the oceans in the background. Trying to get into the Viking spirit too, you know... Mouth: it is, indeed, rather spicy, slightly eau-de-vie-ish (I would have said 10 instead of 16), but good, with raisins and this wee smoky minerality that’s very HP. Touches of strawberry jam and then more marmalade. Finish: medium yet a tad rough, with a little kirsch, or slivovitz, then raisins in chocolate. Comments: some pretty good Highland Park, for once whisky travellers won’t lose their time while transiting through international airports.
SGP:452 - 84 points.

Orkney 11 yo 2007/2018 (63.7%, Sherwood’s, bourbon hogshead, cask #0036/2007, 329 bottles)

Orkney 11 yo 2007/2018 (63.7%, Sherwood’s, bourbon hogshead, cask #0036/2007, 329 bottles)
Colour: white wine. Nose: some characterful mineral, zesty young Highland Park, totally spirit-driven, unfolding on all things bready and yeasty, which we always enjoy a lot when no feints are in sight. But it is strong and could burn your nostrils if you’re not careful… With water: huge viscimetry. Other than that, it’s getting more on wet clothes (tweed) and baker’s yeast. Rubbed lemon skin. Mouth (neat): perfect, creamy, fruity and very mineral, with a waxy background ala Clynelish and a sooty yeastiness ala Springbank. With water: perfect. Lime, soot, chalk, sourdough, a touch of gentian… The people want this! Finish: long, clean, chalky, lime-y, waxy, and even a tad mezcaly – which goes very well with the gentian in this. Green tea in the aftertaste. Comments: I had written ‘one of the finest distillates on this planet’ about another young Orkney. I know it’s terrible when you start to quote yourself, but well, at least I agree with yours truly.
SGP:352 - 88 points.

Orkney 12 yo 2006/2018 (57.8%, North Star Spirits, bourbon hogshead, 362 bottles)
Angus already tried this baby, let’s not re-read his notes! Colour: white wine. Nose: as expected, this is very similar. Same mineral/waxy profile, with some exquisite scents of citrus and a fantastic breadiness. It’s just a notch sharper than the 2007. With water: something slightly medicinal, tincture of iodine, bandages… Mouth (neat): yeah, perfect. What it’s got this time is a specific spiciness that cannot not come from the wood, and that would rather be caraway. With water: no caraway left, rather an impeccable mineral zestiness, with touches of paraffin. A wee bit of pickled ginger, perhaps. Finish: rather long, a tad saltier. Bitter oranges, ginger, lemon, a wee slice of gherkin. Comments: rather terrific. Too bad they can’t display the name of the distillery, such bottlings could only further enhance its reputation. But you know, Scottish brand politics…
SGP:452 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Highland Park we've tasted so far