Origin: Orkney Islands (Scozia)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: The Edrington Group
Average price: € 200.00
Official website: www.highlandparkwhisky.com
Vote: 90/100
The 12-year-old from Highland Park has always been on the podium of our views, a whisky evidently much loved (and sought after) by our readers, and with good reason.
So how can you resist the call of a sample from a 1980s bottling? You just can’t!
As you can see from the picture accompanying the article, the packaging was radically different from today’s, and also had a lower strength: we are still in the era when the Orkney distillery was in the hands of James Grant & Co., a different time in many ways.
But we’re here to drink, not to be nostalgic!
Tasting notes
The colour, adulterated unlike the current version, is a beautiful dark amber.
The nose is very citrusy, with orange peel and mandarin, accompanied by walnuts, sultanas, marzipan, toffee, shortbread. A very soft and sweet profile, full, decidedly satisfying. In the background, but just as an ethereal and caressing presence, a wisp of peat smoke, which adds warmth.
And the peat emerges immediately on the palate, albeit with soft delicacy, embracing the citrus fruits that here become spicy, with a rather pronounced saline note. Salted butter with a drop of honey, dried fruit, nutmeg. A very slight hint of wood. An almost perfect balance, full and round.
The finish is not very long, of ash, salted butter, spices.
Different and yet similar to its grandson, this bottling from the roaring eighties is velvety and gentle, persuasive but not pleasing, truly unique.