Highland Park Tasting - 15 Feb 2008

[mikeymad]

Highland Park 18yo - Riedel Whisky Glass

Nose - lemons, light cereal, light honey, everything is very light out of this glass
Palate - does not match the nose, big cooked oragnes, nutmeg, honey, oily, cinnamon, cake
Finish - honey, spices, medium length, all in the mouth
Comments - Great fun to tip this beverage back....

For a drinking glass this matches up well, I like the approach of it, it dumps it all over the palate, and even covers the lips. You get almost nothing out of the nose which is missing a lot of the goodness.

I will not be using this for any other tasting.

[Muskrat Portage]

Drat!
I'm the designated driver for the ladies bonspeil team (Mrs Muskies team) so no Highland Park for Petey tonight. Well, not until later on.

Sorry, have fun without me. I'm off to the curling club, -30 below out there too!

Muskrat

[mikeymad]

Moving on to a single cask:

Highland Park 19yo 1986 ( 53.8%, Original Bottling, Beltramos, single cask b-05, cask 2498 )

starting back with the Glencairn.

[mikeymad]

Sorry to loose you Musky (for now) we will be around for a while on the left coast.

throw a good weight Mrs. Musky!

Cheers,

[SoMK]

Don't I work hard for the cause...
At this rate, next tasting note will be written from under the table.

Highland Park bicentenary 1977
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : wow... Smoke/honey/heather again but magnified. trademark of HP but wow.. that's amazing. No doubt, this is the older brother of 12 ! Palate : Chocolate is gone but O boy, orange honey is there and obviously HP invented the salted caramel honey flavour. With the ever present smoke and discreet peat. All this is long and interlocked and makes you go back at it *it's so difficult, really* Finish : Marvellous mix of oaky dryness and sweetness that lingers on. Maybe the chocolate is back but very dark, more cocoa than chocolate. Comment : How freshness can manage to coexist with such dark sweet notes and smoke is just magic Colour : Chestnut honey Score : 92
Age : 21 Years Old Vintage : 77 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : Island (non Islay) Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : Smaple provided by sherriedMalt *waves*
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

Oh, SoMK I am not ready for the Bi yet. I will be there is a while.

[K-Mile]

Glad to see I made it just in time

Don't have much HP open, and just poured myself a dram of Black Bottle, but will certainly get a 18yo and a 22yo bottled by the SMWS to join in the party.

Won't open up my 30yo just yet

[mikeymad]

Cheers K-mile, we will have to see if we can help you out.

[K-Mile]

First of all, let me say that this (for me at least) new tasting notes interface just rocks!

[Ganga]

Ok, I'm home now. Finally the fun begins for me.

I'm going to catch up on what's been happening over the last hour.

[Ganga]

Ok, pouring several dram of the Hi-Time HP 15: sm brandy, glencairn, Ardbeg noser, tumbler, and the Celtic Malts glass.

[Ganga]

Hi-Time Highland Park
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 15 yo Cask Strength
Nose : Cherries and caramel, rubbery vinegar, almonds, orange marmalade Palate : Caramel and oranges, a little rubbery, mixed spices, light maltiness Finish : Long, orangey caramel with the rubberiness from the palate fading away Comment : The citrus elements come out in the nose much better with the addition of copious amounts of water. Got too much in it to really get a good palate. Colour : Reddish amber Score : 68
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

Opening new bottle:


Highland Park 19yo 1986 (53.8%, Original Bottling, Beltramos, single cask b-05, cask 2498) in Glencairn Glass


Color - Dark Red Amber
Nose - cooked oranges, hard candy, Sherry, stewed apples, burnt oak
Palate - sherry and orange bomb.... spicy, good rich mouthfeel,
Finish - dry sherry and spice finish, that goes on for some time, warming in the mid throat, and chest.
Comments - This does not have all the suttle aspects of the standard 18yo, but I really like to drink this

Let's give this a try in the Large brandy.

[Ganga]

Hi-Time Highland Park #2
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 15 yo Cask Strength
Nose : Lots of caramel and nuts, oranges and red apples, cocoa/chocolate?, some kind of spice-nutmeg perhaps Palate : Caramel, cooked red apples, some rubberiness, mixed nuts Finish : Long with spices diminishing into a slight rubberiness Comment : oranges and apples really come out on the nose with the additon of some water. Much of the palate mellows and the rubberiness goes away. Colour : Reddish amber Score : 74
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Hi-Time Highland Park #3
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Hi-Time Wine Cellars Single Cask
Nose : Very strong caramel with nuts, burnt sugars and raw sugars, light citrus, light maltiness Palate : Orangey caramel, cooked apples, very slight maltiness, lemons Finish : Long and citrusy with an underlying layer of caramel and a wee hint of the rubbberiness Comment : Addition of water brings out the oranges and apples while other aspects diminish. Oranges turn to tangerines on the palate when water is added. Colour : Reddish amber Score : 72
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Ardbeg Noser Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

new glass:


Highland Park 19yo 1986 (53.8%, Original Bottling, Beltramos, single cask b-05, cask 2498) in large brandy Glass


Nose - very hot, malt, smoke, orange
Palate - nice mouthfeel that turns slightly dry, cooked oranges and cinnimon spice comes through, along with hony, and hard candy sugar,
Finish - dry and spices sit in the mouth.
Comments - a bowl of fire, and spice. fun

It is hard out of this glass. It is so hot that it is hard to nose, but it drinks nice.

[K-Mile]

I haven't read all your notes so far, but I'm taking a shot at the detailed tasting notes with one of my favorites, the 18yo.

It's been a while since I had the chance to seriously nose and taste a fine malt, so bear with me

Highland Park 18yo
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 18yo
Nose : Very smooth, a little smoke, but sweetness all over it Palate : Sherry, honey Finish : Starts out smooth, but there is a heathery, flowery punch after a few seconds. Lingers on with lots of sweetness Comment : Has a great flavor and mouthfeel, the finish just keeps on going. Not too heavy, well balanced. Colour : copper / tawny Score : 90
Age : 18 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : - Ice : - Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by K-Mile Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

After 5 beverages I need a little food. I will be drinking again soon.

Cheers,

[K-Mile]

After 5 beverages I need a little food. I will be drinking again soon.

Cheers,

Same here, getting ready for my last dram of the night. It's almost 4am here, and there's lots of work to do tomorrow...

HP 20yo coming up...

[Ganga]

Hi-Time Highland Park #4
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Hi-Time Wine Cellars Single Cask
Nose : Caramel, hints of pumpkin/squashes, very light citrus Palate : Oranges, caramel, maltiness, apples, a little bit of rubberiness, and some light spice. Bananas too. Finish : Long, loads of caramel and oranges. Comment : Water brings more of the caramel out in the nose and palate. Also the palate actually gets a little spicey with the water. Colour : Reddish amber Score : 75
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Celtic Malts Glass Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Wait a minute, there's bananas in the CM glass too.

[Sherried Malt]

Hey guys.

The 12, 18 and 25 are poured and ready! Gotta get a couple more. Be right back.

[Ganga]

Hi-Time Highland Park #5
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Hi-Time Wine Cellars Single Cask
Nose : Nice light oranges and caramel. Palate : Rich caramel and oranges, apples, much maltiness. Finish : Moderate, orangey/spicey caramel, malty Comment : - Colour : Reddish amber Score : 68
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tumbler Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Wave]

Starting with a freshly opened....
Highland Park 19yr old 1985 Scott's Selection 53.5% Alc./Vol.
Glencairn glass


Color - Light gold
Nose - Sweat vanilla and white chocolate covered cherries with smoky peat embers.
Palate - creamy sweat, smokey vanilla and red fruit
Finish - Long and slightly chewy. Lightly drying

Comments - Another winner from Scott's Selection!
I give this one an 88


Cheers!

[Ganga]

Hey SM, good to see you here. I'm just finishing a flight through the Hi-Time HP 15 CS.

[Ganga]

Good evening Wave.

[mikeymad]

Hey Wave and Sherried.... glad to see you on....

I will be joining back in soon

[K-Mile]

Wait a minute, there's bananas in the CM glass too.

This is when you know you're dealing with the pros

j/k.. I always enjoy reading your notes with the different kind of glasses. I only have Glencairns and already having trouble identifying what I see, smell, and taste. Can't imagine trying to single out these kinds of subtleties.

[Ganga]

K-Mile, thanks.

I'm getting ready for the Prime Malt No 2 HP 12 yo, 40%. PM is bottled by Duncan Taylor.

[Sherried Malt]

Hey, what happened?? I just posted some comments on the 12 and nothing shows up! That was my first drink, I swear...

[K-Mile]

SMSW 4.116
Brand : Scotch Malt Whisky Society Expression : 4.116
Nose : Sharp, fruity. Fresher than the OB's (I tried the 12, 15 & 18), less warm and smooth. Palate : Instante 'bite'. tingling around my tongue, smokey, toffee? Finish : Mouthwatering, powerful, Comment : Quite different than the OB's, but that could be the ABV. Appears more fruity than sherried, though. Colour : Very pale, white Score : 85
Age : 20 Years Old Vintage : 1986 ABV : 50.2% Bottler : Scotch Malt Whisky Society	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : - Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : "Oysters at Skara Brae"
More tasting notes by K-Mile Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

hmmmm. if not a problem, you have to remember to add the notes to your post first.

Not sure otherwise

[K-Mile]

Well, that's it for me. My HP12 has just been emptied, so I'm out of open bottles. It's been a long week, so I guess I'll have to get some sleep anyway.

Enjoy the tasting, and goodnight!

Cheers

[Ganga]

K-Mile, oh that sounds appetizing. Have you ever tried a little water with this one?

[Sherried Malt]

Ok, Let's try that again...

My first try of a 12 ever. Much more used to the Bi.

Nose: Thought I got some oranges at the very first nosing (power of suggestion?) but not there anymore. Nice heather. Don't get much of anything else, but I normally don't focus on a whisky's nose...

Palate: Great honeyed sweetness. Not cloying or overpowering. Very light on its feet. Dancing, almost...

Finish: Best part of this whisky. Clean, full and lasting. Got a hint of nougat or something like that but can't really place...

Very nice but not wowed. Think I want more body...