[WHISKY REVIEW] Highland Park 12 yo 🥃
Since I was a bit disappointed with the 15 year old Highland Park and advised you to stick with the 12 year old, I wanted to see how much it had changed since I last tried it a couple of years ago. Let's find out!
ABV: 40%
Age: 12yo
Region: Orkney
Cask type: ex-oloroso sherry casks
Price: Around 30-35 USD / 0.7L
Natural color & chill-filtered
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: There are some nice phenols to begin with. It can be mistaken for youthness perhaps, but it's definitely peat phenols. The faint smoke creates a quite maritime feel to it. Some woody notes as well, perhaps dry cedar. Not as much honey as I remember but plenty of fresh thyme and other herbs that tingle the tongue. I expect quite a lot of dryness. After som aeration there are some lovely notes of milk chocolate, hazelnuts and marzipan. Overall a quite austere but well concerted nose.
Palate: Seaweed and heather honey together with bitter-sweet nuts, orange peel and iodine, embraced by a faint cloud of smoke. Pretty much how I remembered it! A hint of tinned pineapple and some semi-tart sultanas in there as well. Again, very well concerted and balanced.
Finish: Medium-long, malty and a bit drying.
Conclusion: It's all about the balance, baby! This dram has a little bit of everything; sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, tartness, smoke. But none of the components take the overhand. A great introduction whisky and a perfect everyday dram! My advice stands; stick with the 12 year old (if you can't afford the 18 year old that is.) 85 points out of 100.
Awesome review! Upvoted and following 👍
I've made 5 reviews on Scotch, 🤝 so happy to come across your review!
Would you please share how you made those links to your other reviews at the bottom of your post?
Such a great idea!
I'd love to do the same 🙂
Have a fantastic weekend!
Cheers, and thanks for the kind words!
To place the links to your previous articles, just write the title you wish, then mark it and click on the "link" symbol in the editor and paste the address to the article. You have a great weekend as well!
Tremendous!
Thank you for your guidance 🤗
Have you ever had a chance to taste Serbian Brandy?
Šljivovica? Not yet! My grandfather was a huge fan though.
It would be very interesting to see “Šljivovica review” from you. :)