Highland Park 21 Year Old
Raising Standards
0 592
Review by @vanPelt
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall92
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Highland Park
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Island
- ABV: 47.5%
First vapor: Cherries with cinnamon honey.
Nose: A milk chocolate Toblerone, with woody cinnamon and orange. A little time brings some vanilla peach syrup and floral notes.
Palate: Sharply sweet honey entrance. Accompanied by orange peel or ginger. Kept in the mouth, it becomes thick heather syrup, and then strawberry jam, accented by cinnamon and ginger.
Finish: A bit of ginger heat over a lightly sweet latte; and remnant floral strawberry. Later, cool anise in the cheeks.
Now we're making a statement. Compared with the 12 and 18 (see my other recent reviews), this 21yo not only brings character but delight as well. A changing aroma that is sweet and interesting at each stage; a smooth entrance; a syrupy palate crescendo; and a finish that is happy to sit without biting back. If I were to gripe, I could ask for deeper flavors or perhaps a tad higher strength. For example, the 21yo is still not quite at the level of the 30yo, which adds a different set of aromas and flavors: more vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, and richer fruit. But I am not griping, because the 21 is excellent.
Find where to buy Highland Park whisky
Yes, for the money it should be higher ABV. It's pretty high, but higher would be better. Over 50 at least. HP doesn't do that because enough people buy the scotch the way it is that it all gets sold. The buyers are not all craft oriented. Some of them are just people that open up the bottle and drink it without even a dash of water. Or, gods forbid, ice. HP makes good money doing what they are doing. That's the trouble. For what HP sells, it is overpriced IMO. Yes, it is delicious, but it is a bit weak and lacking in what could be even better, northern peaty water and all