Since I was a bit disappointed with the 15 year old Highland Park and advised you to stick with the 12 year old, I wanted to see how much it had changed since I last tried it a couple of years ago. Let's find out!
ABV: 40%
Age: 12yo
Region: Orkney
Cask type: ex-oloroso sherry casks
Price: Around 30-35 USD / 0.7L
Natural color & chill-filtered
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: There are some nice phenols to begin with. It can be mistaken for youthness perhaps, but it's definitely peat phenols. The faint smoke creates a quite maritime feel to it. Some woody notes as well, perhaps dry cedar. Not as much honey as I remember but plenty of fresh thyme and other herbs that tingle the tongue. I expect quite a lot of dryness. After som aeration there are some lovely notes of milk chocolate, hazelnuts and marzipan. Overall a quite austere but well concerted nose.
Palate: Seaweed and heather honey together with bitter-sweet nuts, orange peel and iodine, embraced by a faint cloud of smoke. Pretty much how I remembered it! A hint of tinned pineapple and some semi-tart sultanas in there as well. Again, very well concerted and balanced.
Finish: Medium-long, malty and a bit drying.
Conclusion: It's all about the balance, baby! This dram has a little bit of everything; sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, tartness, smoke. But none of the components take the overhand. A great introduction whisky and a perfect everyday dram! My advice stands; stick with the 12 year old (if you can't afford the 18 year old that is.) 85 points out of 100.
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