Highland Park 15 Year Old
Bantam
0 278
Review by @markjedi1
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall78
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- Brand: Highland Park
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Island
- ABV: 40%
Highland Park is one of those whiskies that should be in every cabinet, even if it is only just the one. Their standard 12 Year Old is nice and friendly priced. This 15 Year Old has a bit of a different composition, with a larger part of first fill American oak than its younger brother.
The nose is honeysweet. Almost no smoke or peat to speak off and even the salt stays behind, to make room for honey, vanilla and loads of caramel. Slightly floral with some heather. Petit Beurre cookies. If this was a boxer, it would be a bantam (google is your friend). Only after 5 long minutes do I recognize any HP in this. The citrus develops the most.
It is creamy, but lacks punch. Not a lot of body. All citrus and caramel, basically. Mildly spiced. Some more smoke, now. And grassy. Heather again. Gets better, but never gets big.
The finish is medium long, again on citrus. Rather drying.
This is a bit of a weird HP, if you ask me. The 12 Year Old easily transcends this one.
Find where to buy Highland Park whisky
HP spokesman Gerry Tosh explains in his video posted below that it's American White Oak for the 15 yr, in comparison to the Spanish Oak used to age the 12 yr, and 18 yr expressions.
www.youtube.com/watch
I do agree though - the 15 yr is indeed different, and unique from it's brethren, but I really enjoy it nonetheless.