Highland Park 12 Year Old
Reuniting with an Old Acquaintance
0 285
Review by @AKGcandlefish
- Nose20
- Taste22
- Finish22
- Balance21
- Overall85
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- Brand: Highland Park
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Island
- ABV: 43%
Color: light amber.
Nose: smoke and toffee.
Body: medium-full and buttery.
Palate: more smoke and toffee. Very woody but sweet too. Nutty. And I'm probably out of my mind, but I feel like I taste strawberries?
Finish: long and smokey with a burst of pepper.
HP12 was the third Scotch I ever bought after Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12, and while it was a huge step-up from those two, I also had an opportunity around that time to taste compare this to the Macallan 12. Having preferred the Macallan at the time, I haven't had the HP12 again in several years. Tonight my sister-in-law offered me a glass, and I regret having neglected this bottle for so many years. This still isn't a fair review -- I'm going off memory, I didn't have my Glencairn glass with me, and I didn't try it with and without water -- but generally I was quite impressed with this and would love to do a second side-by-side with the Macallan to see which I'd prefer today. I was surprised by the HP12's smokiness (I hadn't remembered that), which was nice. Incidentally, my wife was surprised by the sweetness, which she hadn't remembered. In any case, this is a more than solid medium-range Scotch. Definitely one to reach for when you're looking for your first $50 bottle.
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I just had my first dram of HP12, then logged on to see the most recent review was yours. I'd agree with most of it. Didn't find any strawberries but I'll have another look. I did find lots of peat, pepper, and smoke. I didn't find the finish lasted that long.