Highwood Ninety Decades of Richness 20 Year Old
Better Highwood
0 2086
Review by @talexander
- Nose21
- Taste22
- Finish21
- Balance22
- Overall86
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This one is a new(ish) expression of Highwood's Ninety 20 expression, called "Decades of Richness" (for some reason? Maybe an anniversary?) I believe it's distilled from corn, but if I'm wrong let me know. And of course it's 20 years old.
The colour is a light caramel. On the nose the caramel is very soft, not cloying at all - and the spice (more chili than the expected rye) is more pronounced. The oak is softer than you would think, given the age. Mint, eucalyptus and freshly cut grass. A drop of water brings the rye out a bit more. Very nice - not a powerhouse but extremely elegant.
On the palate the spice shows through the gentle toffee and vanilla, backed by a hard rye profile in the background. Pine. Creme brûlée. Buttery. Water does the same to the palate as it does to the nose - more rye, less caramel. Pleasant and enjoyable.
The finish is a bit too muted, with toasted oak and white pepper. It's a very nice, decent whisky. I think I preferred the regular Ninety 20 over this "Decades of Richness" bottling (though it's probably the same juice). Compared to the Centennial 10 Year Old, it's lighter in colour (which is interesting), but more complex and less cloying. Even though it's distilled with corn rather than wheat, it shares a lot of notes with the 10 Year Old; presumably they were matured in similar casks.
This has/will always be in my bar. Would like to pick up the Canadian Rockies 21 but refuse to pay the ridiculous price at the LCBO for the same juice as Ninety 20.