Highland Park Live Tasting - March 13, 2010

[Ryguy]

Welcome to the Highland Park Live Forum Tasting.

The Whiskies

• Highland Park 12 Years Old
• Highland Park 15 Years Old
• Highland Park 16 Years Old
• Highland Park 18 Years Old
• Highland Park 21 Years Old
• Highland Park 25 Years Old
• Highland Park 30 Years Old
• + limited editions and ind. bottlings

Date and Time

• Saturday, March 13, 2010 - Anytime

For those of you who do not know what these are about they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have.

Handy Links

• Live Tastings Forum
• Tasting Note Tools and Advice
• Highland Park web site

[Ryguy]

I have a few tasty HP's to try

Highland Park 15yo ( 52.7%, Hi-time Wine Single Cask #10140, 1990/2006 )
Highland Park 1975/2001 ( 50%, Scott's Selection )
Highland Park 21yo ( 47.5%, Original Bottling, Duty Free )
Highland Park 25yo ( 48.1 %, OB )
Highland Park 25yo ( 53.5%, OB )

[Willie JJ]

When are you planning to start Ry?

[Ryguy]

I'm going to get these in either late this evening (9pm EST) or tomorrow evening around the same time.

[Willie JJ]

Ok it seems like it'll really kick off tomorrow so maybe I'll have some fun at the peatfest tonight.

[Wave]

I almost forgot this was tonight! I'll be on later after work with my 2 possibly 3 HP's though unfortunately probably a little too late for everyone else. I'm just hoping the homemade black bean chili I'm making for the crew this evening doesn't kill my tastebuds!


Cheers!

[Ras Mazunga]

Good evening. I'll start with the with the weakest ones first.
HP 1991 17yo Signatory unchillfiltered collection. Sherry butt no. 15100 46%
n: oloroso, sweet carrots, oak, moisty forest, mushroom, suddenly fruitiness appaers, figs, warm cake, fire, almonds
t: figs, appples, tea
f: black tea, oily
c: lots of depth, very good

[pkt77242]

Nice notes Raz, I should be on in a little bit with 3 HP's

HP 12
HP 1986 19yo for Beltramos Single Cask
HP 1981 25yo Scott's Selection

[Ras Mazunga]

I'll wait for you pkt77242, in the mean time:
HP 20yo 1989 46% Oloroso sherry butt 11894 Van Wees
n: whiff of veggetables, white wine, sugar molasses, smoke, fire, oberlander bread( ), tea, creamy, apple molasses(common her but maybe not everywhere), very full smell
t: sherry, sweets, round, vanilla, chocolate, cocoa butter, mocca
f: still sweet but drying, tobacco, a hint a of sulpur
c: similar to the signatory one

[pkt77242]

Highland Park 12
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Honey, heather, and apricot. The smell of a beach (salt water, sand etc). Palate : Slightly sweet on loads of honey, apricots, and a hint of heather. Salty. Not much smoke Finish : Medium finish on smoked heather, and honey. Comment : Sweeter than the last bottle of HP 12 that I had but still enjoyable. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

84 points or there abouts.

[Ras Mazunga]

HP 19yo 1975 First Cask 46%
n: soft and sweet, bourbon barrel I guess, melon, some hay and oak
t: sweet melon lemonade
f: sugar powder with melons,
c: the most melony whisky I've ever had.

Nick: thank you for this one, it reminds me a bit of the CC. Or am I completely off?

[pkt77242]

Highland Park 19yo for Beltramo's
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Orange, strawberry jam and mushrooms. Very nutty, leather and milk chocolate. Very faint smoke. Palate : great notes of orange, and mushrooms. Raisins covered in milk chocolate. Finish : Medium long on nutty milk chocolate and oranges. Just a pinch of smoke. Comment : Very enjoyable. This must be a first fill sherry cask and the sherry almost overpowers (ok maybe it does) the spirit. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 19 Years Old Vintage : 1986 ABV : 53.8% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

90 points and if you like heavily sherried whisky this is for you.

[pkt77242]

Ok, last one for me.

Scott's Selection Highland Park 1981 25yo
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Peaty heather and moss. Brine, mangoes, lemon and oak. Palate : Much peatier than OB HP's. Again the peaty moss/heather. Lemons, and brine. Slight oak. Finish : Medium finish that gets oakier and drier. Briney peat. Comment : A very nice mature HP. Briney, and just the right amount of oak. Also much more peat than in the standard OB's. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 25 Years Old Vintage : 1981 ABV : 50.6% Bottler : Scott's Selection	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

89 points. Enjoyable but very different.

[Ras Mazunga]

Great notes pkt77242.
I'm happy to see i'm not the only one who smells mushrooms and moss in HP.

HP 24yo 1984 50.4% smws 4.134 refill hh ex-bourbon
n: wood fire, oak, raisins, panforte, balsamico, a hint of Springbank CV(is this allowed ), dough, malts, cambozola cheese
t: raisins, buttery
f: spicy honey
c: another great HP, sample courtesy of Ewald

[pkt77242]

cambozola cheese

That is the the first time I have ever seen cambozola cheese used to describe a whisky. I have never heard of Cambozla, is there another cheese that it is similar too?

Sean

[Ryguy]

And so it begins for me this evening, I'm starting to line things up now.

[Ras Mazunga]

Hp 25yo 53.5% ob
n: Whoohoo, full on. cooked fruits(grapes and apples), honey, wax, oysters, varnish changing into cake and some kind of supermelon.
t: fruits(apples and oranges), salty, butter, quiet some oak, cane sugar, milk
f: citrus, honey, oysters, liquorice, smoky, menthol
c: finally I had the oppertunity to taste a HP 25 ob that is fantastic. sample courtesy of C57.

[Ras Mazunga]

@pkt7742:
Cambozala is a german cheese developed almost 40 years ago. It is a mix between camembert and gorgonzola. Tastes a bity like mushrooms.

@Ryguy:
Looking forward to read your notes Ryan.

[Ryguy]

Highland Park 21yo
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 21yo (Duty Free)
Nose : Nice balance of honey, wood smoke, a touch of heather. Also reminds me of a fresh cut cigar. Palate : Gentle start, more honey, a bit of salt and a touch of peat. Finish : The finish is long and tasty, more peat than I remembered from last time I tried this. Comment : Great dram! Colour : Dark gold Score : 0
Age : 21yo Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47.5%% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Cheers Ras! Great notes from earlier, I enjoyed reading through them!

[Ryguy]

Highland Park 25yo (48.1%)
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 25yo (48.1%) - 2007
Nose : Nice bit of campfire smoke with hints of honey and pears. Palate : Some cooked apples, sea salt, wood smoke and a touch of honey. Finish : Finish is long, mixed dark fruits, hints of raisins, and peat. Comment : Great dram! Colour : Light amber Score : 0
Age : 25 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 48.1%% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Highland Park 25yo (53.5%)
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 25yo (53.5%)
Nose : Sweeter on the nose than the previous, more honey with stewed apples and a touch of smoke. Palate : Sweet dark fruits, some sea salt and burnt wood. Finish : The finish is long and smokey, very well balanced between smoke and the overall sweetness. Comment : Very nice dram! Colour : Ligh amber Score : 0
Age : 25 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 53.5% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ras Mazunga]

It is nice to see a pattern in the tasting notes. Highland Park seems to have quiet a strong distillery character.

[pkt77242]

@pkt7742:
Cambozala is a german cheese developed almost 40 years ago. It is a mix between camembert and gorgonzola. Tastes a bity like mushrooms.

Thank you Ras, I like both of those cheeses, so I might try to track that down.

[Ryguy]

Highland Park 1975/2001 (Scott's Selection)
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Honey and loads of campfire smoke. Palate : This is perfectly balanced. Starts with sweet honey, then gives way to a gentle smoke that lasts forever. Finish : The finish is long and smokey (campfire smoke) with more honey towards the very end. Comment : Excellent dram!! Really wish I had another bottle!! Colour : Dark gold Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 50% Bottler : Scott's Selection	Type : - Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Highland Park 15yo Single Cask
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Single Cask, bottled for Hi-Time Wine Cellars
Nose : Big sherry with a hint of rubber boots, dark fruits and raisins. Palate : Dry and sweet with hints of burnt rubber, dark cooked fruits, honey and a touch of smoke. Finish : The finish is long and drying, mostly fruity with very little smokey, but some honey. Comment : Nice dram! This bottle has really opened up well since being opened. Colour : Dark amber Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7%% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS glass Notes : Cask #10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Jobi]

I'm popping in for just one HP tonight.

HP single cask #8293, a 27 yo bottled for Jolly Beggars Scotch Society. A little history here:

I had tasted cask #8294, also a 27 yo, at a Highland Park tasting a couple of years ago and it was just perfection. I heard through a forumite about #8293 and just had to get one. I was not disappointed. It may pale slightly to my memory of cask #8294, but that may just be how memory works.

Nose: Reminiscent of the OB 30 yo, it is rich and elegant and makes me think of castles and silk and gold. If there is more you can ask for from a nose, I don't know what it is.

Palate: Shades of the nose, with a little bit of oak to hint at its age. Excellent honey/smoke vapor that fills the mouth. Like #8294 there is a flash of something mid-palate that, for me, encompasses all that I love about whisky. I find myself chasing it like a heroin addict chasing a high.

The finish has a lingering warm fizz that just makes me say, "Aahh".

(Please note that I am a few pours deep at this point so I may be waxing poetic, but I do love this bottle.)

Enjoy the rest of the tasting.

[pkt77242]

I'm popping in for just one HP tonight.

HP single cask #8293, a 27 yo bottled for Jolly Beggars Scotch Society. A little history here:

I had tasted cask #8294, also a 27 yo, at a Highland Park tasting a couple of years ago and it was just perfection. I heard through a forumite about #8293 and just had to get one. I was not disappointed. It may pale slightly to my memory of cask #8294, but that may just be how memory works.

Nose: Reminiscent of the OB 30 yo, it is rich and elegant and makes me think of castles and silk and gold. If there is more you can ask for from a nose, I don't know what it is.

Palate: Shades of the nose, with a little bit of oak to hint at its age. Excellent honey/smoke vapor that fills the mouth. Like #8294 there is a flash of something mid-palate that, for me, encompasses all that I love about whisky. I find myself chasing it like a heroin addict chasing a high.

The finish has a lingering warm fizz that just makes me say, "Aahh".

(Please note that I am a few pours deep at this point so I may be waxing poetic, but I do love this bottle.)

Enjoy the rest of the tasting.

Jobi, great note. Thanks for joining us.

[Ganga]

HP 13
Brand : Prime Malt Expression : Selection No 2, 1989
Nose : lemons peels and cracked barley, custard pudding, fresh oak Palate : astringent, oaky, more custard, lemon juice, multigrain bread Finish : mellows rather quickly to a lemony oak Comment : - Colour : bright gold Score : 0
Age : 13 Years Old Vintage : 1989 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : no Ice : no Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

HP 12
Brand : Highland Park Expression : HP 12
Nose : Heathery honey, whispy smoke, mashed tangerines, cinnamon buns Palate : Cinnabons dripped with honey, floral, orange Xmas cider, toasted almonds Finish : Long with the sweetness decaying into a lovely light smoke and dough Comment : - Colour : Orange gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : no Ice : no Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : Flask
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Friendly reminder that next month is Japanese whiskies. Suggestions for May people. We need them. I'll give some oddball suggestions. Tomatin, Tullibardine and Tamnavulin.

[pkt77242]

Friendly reminder that next month is Japanese whiskies. Suggestions for May people. We need them. I'll give some oddball suggestions. Tomatin, Tullibardine and Tamnavulin.

How about Glenlivet? I don't think we have done it in a while and the last one was fun. Or maybe Mortlach?

[Wave]

Highland Park 32yr old

-
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Apples, wet hay, slight smoke Palate : Tongue-coating, apples and pears Finish : Long and slightly chewy sweet, some smoke and late salt Comment : - Colour : light amber Score : 0
Age : 32 Years Old Vintage : 1973 ABV : 43% Bottler : Lorne MacKillop	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : none Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[Wave]

Highland Park 19yr old Scott's Selection
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : White chocolate and smoke Grape jam Palate : dark fruits, honey and spice with an underlining of peat. Finish : Medium to long length peaty smoke, apple skins Comment : - Colour : Medium Gold Score : 0
Age : 19 Years Old Vintage : 1985 ABV : 53.5% Bottler : Scott's Selection	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[lockejn]

Friendly reminder that next month is Japanese whiskies. Suggestions for May people. We need them. I'll give some oddball suggestions. Tomatin, Tullibardine and Tamnavulin.

How about rye whiskies?