-
Scotch Single Malt - Highland Park 12 Year-old
Click for larger image
Highland Park 12 Year-old
Highland Park Distillery Ltd. (Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland)
Grain - Barley Malt
PROOF: 86 (43%)
AGE: 12 Years
TYPE: Single Malt -Orkney Islands
Notes: This distillery was established in 1798, and the northernmost whisky distillery in the world. Located in Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands of Scotland.
The Orkney Island Style is smoky without the extremes of a Islay malt-almost, dare I say -a cross between the Highland and Islay styles.
This company has a range of malts 12,16,18, 25 and 30 years-old and a number of special bottlings. Considered by most reviewers as a good to excellent whisky more affordable for the quality across its age range as it is somewhat lesser known - a bit of a dark horse compared to say Macallan or Lagavulin to name a few.
Appearance: Dark honey/Baltic amber in the bottle, lighter gold in the glass, nice edge line on the glass when you swirl it, smooth layer of whiskey on swirling (very few legs to speak of).
First Impression: Peat smoke, honey, heather, malt, hints of Oloroso or Amontillado sherries come through.
Taste: Medium-weight mouth feel (for a scotch). Peat smoke nips at the tongue followed by honey spice, malt and heather. Finish is dry with smoke but balanced.
Drinks: I like it straight up myself. But makes a good Blood and Sand or a milder Berlin Chief of Station (See Shaken Not Stirred for recipe).
Cigars:Yes, but nothing too heavy- try a Joya de Nicaragua.
Final Thoughts: A very agreeable whisky and a good introduction to the darker side of scotch (as regards to peat smoke that is). Cheap enough to mix with and good enough to have straight up.
Bottle: Attractive if slightly dated looking label (fine with me). Clear glass classic shaped scotch bottle. Black neck wrap with dark silver lettering. Real cork closure. Like the whisky, solid quite and understated.
Web site:http://www.highlandpark.co.uk
Fast loading after you get past the age verification form. Great panoramic istillery tour for those to poor or paranoid of flying to visit in person .Be prepared to spend some time digging through the information they posted, there is quite a lot and it is all worthwhile.
Overall rating:
