Highland Park Tasting - 15 Feb 2008

[mikeymad]

Cheers K-mile thanks for the notes.

[Sherried Malt]

Hmm, that worked that time... Must've been a pilot error of some sort...

On to the 18 then!

[Ganga]

Good night K-Mile. Comeback tomorrow and see what you missed.

[Sherried Malt]

Have a good one, K-Mile. I'll have to catch up to your notes afterwards...

[mikeymad]

Moving onto something a little different:

opening:

Non-sherry finished:

Highland Park 24yo 1977 ( 53.7%, Signatory, cask 3788 4.8.77-9.8.01 147/162 )

[Sherried Malt]

The HP 18:

Nose: Much more prominent than the 12. Some ctirus. Light caramel. Rounder on the nose than the 12. Plusher? Get a very good sweetness...something besides honey.

Palate: Ahh, now we're talking! Sherry but nicely balanced. Not a sherry monster. Less of a sherry note than the Bi, while having much of the same sweetness. This is a great whisky. I can drink this every single day. Well done!

Finish: Not up to par vs. the palate. Not bad in of itself (better than the 12 by a bit) but the whisky on the palate was just wonderful. Also get a hint of rubber on the very end...

[Ganga]

Prime Malt No 2 #1
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Prime Malt No 2
Nose : Honey and light vanilla, floral-prairie roses? Palate : butterscotch/vanilla, florals and dried/green grasses, malt, dried apples, a little feinty Finish : Moderate, honey heather Comment : Water seems to add a note of cooked squash to the palate. The nose becomes more heathery. Colour : Honey gold Score : 54
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : none Ice : none Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Sherried Malt]

Moving onto something a little different:

opening:

Non-sherry finished:

Highland Park 24yo 1977 ( 53.7%, Signatory, cask 3788 4.8.77-9.8.01 147/162 )

That's going to be interesting! Same year as the Bi but without the sherry. Can't wait to get your take on it!

[Sherried Malt]

This feels like speed chess or speed dating.

Let's see what the 25's like, but first, a pause for some precautionary hydration...

[Ganga]

Speed dramming?

[Sherried Malt]

You nailed it. Wish I said it first...

[Ganga]

Prime Malt No 2 #2
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Prime Malt No 2
Nose : Sweet matliness, grassy-late summer, light cocoa? Palate : Strong sweet malt, little cocoa and vanilla, heather Finish : moderately short and malty Comment : Water brings more of the chaff out than the grain. Colour : Honey gold Score : 56
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : none Ice : none Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

new bottle:


Highland Park 24yo 1977 ( 53.7%, Signatory, cask 3788 4.8.77-9.8.01 147/162 ) in Glencairn

Color - Pale Gold
Nose - fresh cut grass, lemon, straw, cereal, pencil shavings, waxed floor, sea air
Palate - nice oily presentation, fresh citrus flavors (lemon, lemon zest), maltyness
Finish - clean, fairly short, left with more of the lemon and slight spicey, salty
Comments - A great different view of HP. really does show that the malt and the location does a lot for the beverage.

Going to see if my nose can handle the Large brandy....

[Sherried Malt]

Time for the HP 25:

Nose: Wow, that is one gorgeous sherry nose!! Flowers, heather, honey. There's a citrus element there in the background too.

Palate: OK, now I get why people clamor over this one. This is fabulous! Wonderful sherry mixed in with a perfectly balanced malt. Love the fullness of the body.

Finish: The finish is exactly like the whisky. It's not just one or two notes that remain; it's the entire whisky that's lingering. Nice long finish too.

My fave so far.

[mikeymad]

Sherried, is that a 48.1% or an older one?

[Ganga]

Prime Malt No 2 #3
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Prime Malt No 2
Nose : Malty, malty, malty. Light honey mixed with heather. Palate : Honey malt, some vanilla, light spices-matching up with vanilla. Finish : Short, honey and malt. Comment : Water just diminishes flavors. Colour : Honey gold Score : 55
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : none Ice : none Glass : Ardbeg Noser Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Do tell, SM.

And where'd Wave go?

[Sherried Malt]

Sherried, is that a 48.1% or an older one?

Label says 50.7%. It's from a 333 ml.

[Sherried Malt]

Just exchanged some email with an old girlfriend in CA. Told her what I was doing. She thinks I need to get a life.

Those weren't her exact words. It was more like, "WTF you doing at home on Friday night drinking by yourself?? Go out and get l@id." Yes, she has her good qualities!

Ok, back to fun and games.

[mikeymad]

ah, very good thx

[Ganga]

Prime Malt No 2 #4
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Prime Malt No 2
Nose : Malty honey, heather/summer grasses. Palate : Malty, heather, a little astringent. Hmm. Just hit me wrong for a moment. Still there but really diminished. Finish : Short, feinty and malty Comment : Water: malty on the nose and palate. Much diminished with water. Colour : Honey gold Score : 51
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : none Ice : none Glass : Celtic Malts Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Just exchanged some email with an old girlfriend in CA. Told her what I was doing. She thinks I need to get a life.

Those weren't her exact words. It was more like, "WTF you doing at home on Friday night drinking by yourself?? Go out and get l@id." Yes, she has her good qualities!

Ok, back to fun and games.

Woman's got have her priorities.

[mikeymad]

This is life.... a little bit

but then again most of us are old.

Also didn't she give up any rights to say who get's laid or not?

Cheers,

[Sherried Malt]

ah, very good thx

Didn't know there was more than one version out there. What's the 48.1% one like?

[Sherried Malt]

Also didn't she give up any rights to say who get's laid or not?

Cheers,

She just looks after me. I've known her for the longest time and she always comments on the women in my life. She mostly

[mikeymad]

ah, very good thx

Didn't know there was more than one version out there. What's the 48.1% one like?

I only have had it at a show this last year, and it ranked up their as one of the greatest HP's I have ever had (40+ tasted). Great balance and complexity, witha long great finish.

I am working on getting one.[list=][/list]

[Sherried Malt]

Woman's got have her priorities.

Unfortunately, it wasn't one of her priorities when I knew her. (Unintended pun.) We agree that we met each other at the wrong time. Oh well, c'est la vie.

[Sherried Malt]

ah, very good thx

Didn't know there was more than one version out there. What's the 48.1% one like?

I only have had it at a show this last year, and it ranked up their as one of the greatest HP's I have ever had (40+ tasted). Great balance and complexity, witha long great finish.

I am working on getting one.[list=][/list]

Great to know. Thanks for the heads-up!

[Ganga]

I liked both versions we got to try. Of course, the 30 was one of those really sublime whiskies.

[mikeymad]

new glass:


Highland Park 24yo 1977 ( 53.7%, Signatory, cask 3788 4.8.77-9.8.01 147/162 ) in large brandy


Nose - light citrus, straw, cereal
Palate - grains, light citrus, almond extract, very light honey
Finish - short, light, mild peppery spices.
Comments - A spicy islander, I think that this will be fun in the long run.

[Sherried Malt]

I liked both versions we got to try. Of course, the 30 was one of those really sublime whiskies.

Yeah, I'm really eager to try the 30 in this line-up. I've only compared it to the Bi before.

Also just retrieved the half bottle of the 1986/2005 19 yo CS bottling for Maxxum in the Netherlands. That'll be the nightcap..

[Ganga]

Prime Malt No 2 #4
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Prime Malt No 2
Nose : Malt comes through as well as a little honey and heather. Palate : Honeyed malt. Not much else. Finish : Short, malty Comment : No water this time. Colour : Honey gold Score : 48
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 40% Bottler : Duncan Taylor	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : none Ice : none Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Ok, I'm feeling playful/fiesty. I think I will vat the two bottles for one glass.

[Sherried Malt]

Ok, I'm feeling playful/fiesty. I think I will vat the two bottles for one glass.

You daredevil, you!

[Ganga]

Ok, it's a 50/50 vatting of the HP 15 Hi-Time at 52.7 and the DT PM #2 HP 12 at 40. 15 is a sherry cask and the 12 is a bourbon cask. Let's see what we get.