Highland Park Tasting - 15 Feb 2008

[Deactivated Member]

I will setup a poll tonight for the March Live Tasting. Suggestions received thus far are Bruichladdich, Balvenie, St. Magdalene/Closed Lowland distilleries, Springbank. Anyone with suggestions can post it out as you dram away.

At the risk of a derail, is there a quick way to find out which whiskies have been tested in previous months?

[Muskrat Portage]

Now stop that! I'm scrolling through the tasting as a "guest" so I don't show up until I'm good and ready (read up on everyone's comments) but everytime someone posts it pops me back to the top!

Guess I'll pour a 12 and dive in.

Musky

[mikeymad]

Cheers Musky.... lurking in the dark....

Looking forward to your notes.... I should not be too far behind you, but I am still at work. watching the clock.........

[Muskrat Portage]

Salute Mikey!

Sorry to hear that you're still at work. It appears the party has slowed down a bit so I'll have time to dig out a bottle or two. I have to be careful, very small drams, as I may have to drive Mrs Musky around this evening to her curling bonspeil.

Muskrat

[mikeymad]

Nice Musky....

Not too long ago I watched my recording of the Winter olympics finals with the Canadian women's match (yep I am a nerd). Very cool stuff. I have not been to a real bonspeil, but there are some now and then in the area.

Keep it safe and sane.... and don't worry you can make progress when you get back...

[Matt2]

Nice to see you

I think I will heading off now and let the US take over from here
http://www.worldtimezone.com/datetime.htm , I see it is just getting dark on the East Coast. (Although I think they've been here from the start )

[mikeymad]

Cheers Matt,

Thanks again for setting up the chat....

[Danny]

Salute Mikey!

Sorry to hear that you're still at work. It appears the party has slowed down a bit so I'll have time to dig out a bottle or two. I have to be careful, very small drams, as I may have to drive Mrs Musky around this evening to her curling bonspeil.

Muskrat

Gosh Peter, isn't there only two streets in Kenora

[Ganga]

I will setup a poll tonight for the March Live Tasting. Suggestions received thus far are Bruichladdich, Balvenie, St. Magdalene/Closed Lowland distilleries, Springbank. Anyone with suggestions can post it out as you dram away.

At the risk of a derail, is there a quick way to find out which whiskies have been tested in previous months?

It would be awfully difficult to derail this group. We don't allow too much to get between us and our beverage (ala dog and his bone).

This is from recollection and Musky feel free to elaborate. There were several attempts at getting it all together in the fall (3 or 4 tastings) of which I believe the only serious one was Laphroaig/Islay. In November we had back to back Fridays of Glenlivet with Ian Logan sitting in. December had no formal choice of distillery; basically we did New Years Eve. January didn't get organized. February Highland Park.

[Danny]

Well joining late. Hope not to late to post some notes.

Highland Park 12
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 12 year old
Nose : Toffee, Apples, Spice, (Spiced Apples, how novel) Malt, Water intensifys the toffee Palate : Honey, vanilla, stone fruits, some light spice, just a hint of peat or tobacco aftertaste Finish : MEdium long, lingers with a sweet honey taste Comment : Really quite good. Colour : Amber Score : 86
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : Just a few drops, Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Deactivated Member]

I will setup a poll tonight for the March Live Tasting. Suggestions received thus far are Bruichladdich, Balvenie, St. Magdalene/Closed Lowland distilleries, Springbank. Anyone with suggestions can post it out as you dram away.

At the risk of a derail, is there a quick way to find out which whiskies have been tested in previous months?

It would be awfully difficult to derail this group. We don't allow too much to get between us and our beverage (ala dog and his bone).

This is from recollection and Musky feel free to elaborate. There were several attempts at getting it all together in the fall (3 or 4 tastings) of which I believe the only serious one was Laphroaig/Islay. In November we had back to back Fridays of Glenlivet with Ian Logan sitting in. December had no formal choice of distillery; basically we did New Years Eve. January didn't get organized. February Highland Park.

Ah, thanks for that. There's a pretty large scope for suggestions, then

[mikeymad]

More notes the better Danny....

[Ganga]

Agreed Mikey. Unlike say Amadeus with too many notes.

Butephoto, yep there is lots of room for suggestions as the Live Tasting is a relatively new item on this forum. I'm trying to keep it down to only a few to vote over and not some 100 different distilleries.

[mikeymad]

Okay...

I am taking off of work a little early... I will be home soon and back on-line in a bit, and will be starting with the 18yo OB when I get there.

Be back soon....

[Ganga]

And I've still got another hour here at the office plus the commute home.

[Danny]

I will finish my 12 year before moving onto the 18. Only two I have at present.

I did attend a Bruichladdich tasting a couple of weeks back that was lead by Andrew Grey. We tasted three Laddies and three Murray McDavid bottlings. One of those tasted was a 16 year Highland Park, finished in Bourbon Casks and then Port Pipes.

I did not make formal notes, just jotted down a couple of things.

As Mr. Grey does not recommend any nosing these are all palate notes.

Heather, honey, some peat, spice. What I remember is that this was a whisky that was exceptionally nice and mellow and seemed older than 16 years.

Part of this may bedue to the fact that it is not chill filtered leaving a lot of the oils in that tend to mellow at younger ages.

[Danny]

:evil: And I've still got another hour here at the office plus the commute home.

Ganga, how long is your commute?

[Ganga]

I get out of the office by about 4:45 to catch the train home. I'll be home about 5:45. If I drive into the office it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending upon what the crazy drivers going north on the 5 and 14 are doing.

[Ganga]

Danny,

He really recommended not nosing the whisky? That's half my fun. BTW, MMcD produced a marvelous bourbon cask HP 17 back in the 1990s. It was the one that really made me appreciate this distillery.

[Ganga]

Nick, you're just terrible. Then again, at least it wasn't Eurasia.

[mikeymad]

Man that drive home took way too long and made me thirsty....

Starting in a bit with the HP 18yo OB (new the newest edition)

[mikeymad]

Cheers!!

Highland Park 18yo ( 43%, Original Bottling, In black box )

With the Glencairn glass

[Danny]

Danny,

He really recommended not nosing the whisky? That's half my fun. BTW, MMcD produced a marvelous bourbon cask HP 17 back in the 1990s. It was the one that really made me appreciate this distillery.

Yes, he just likes to taste. I to like to nose. I very much liked both MMcD HP and Macallan. Thet also had a MMcD Mortlach, which I seem to always have in my cupboard.

[Ganga]

Oh go ahead and rub it in. Need beverage.

[mikeymad]

[TASTINGNOTE2=Highland Park 18yo - Glencairn]Td_ABV=43Td_Age=18yoTd_BottleNotes=-Td_Bottler=-Td_Brand=Highland ParkTd_Expression=-Td_NoteID=0Td_Region=-Td_Type=-Td_Vintage=0Tf_Cereal=0Tf_Feinty=0Tf_Floral=0Tf_Fruity=0Tf_Peaty=0Tf_Sulphury=0Tf_Winey=0Tf_Woody=0Tg_Glass=-Tg_Ice=-Tg_Water=-Tm_MemberID=0Tm_MemberName=NoneTm_PostedDate=0Tn_Colour=-Tn_Comments=Very nice drinking dram. does not build on itself, but goes very well with itself. It knows who it is... Tn_Finish=slightly dry with hints of spice and citrus, medium length, and sticks mostly to the mouthTn_Nose=malt, honey, nutmeg?, white pepper, beeswax, cooked oranges, cocoaTn_Palate=citrus (oranges, little bit of lemon rind), more hony sweetness, oilyness that coats the palate, a bit of smoke on the end, cakeTn_Score=0[/TASTINGNOTE2]

[mikeymad]

shoot!! ^&%*$&^*^&

[mikeymad]

Highland Park 18yo - Glencairn

Nose - malt, honey, nutmeg?, white pepper, beeswax, cooked oranges, cocoa
Palate - citrus (oranges, little bit of lemon rind), more hony sweetness, oilyness that coats the palate, a bit of smoke on the end, cake
Finish - slightly dry with hints of spice and citrus, medium length, and sticks mostly to the mouth
Comments - Very nice drinking dram. does not build on itself, but goes very well with itself. It knows who it is...

Take that forum notes....

[mikeymad]

I forgot to mention that I was now moving onto the LARGE brandy......same beverage

[Ganga]

Oh boy, sounds like a most pleasant way to enjoy HP. Well, I'm packing it up and heading home.

See ya'll shortly

[SoMK]

I'll jump in the band wagon I so adore Hp..

Highland Park 12
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Beautiful... I could stick my nose in this one for hours :p It's so complex and delicious..A whiff of smoke and fresh air, blooming heather, sweet sweet malt and this everlasting leather scent.. drooling starts now :p Palate : Honey and smoke but with this ever present freshness behind everything and oak again, dryer and lingering, honey wax polished oak.. Finish : Smoke and spices, ginger.. Somebody set the honey-ginger cake on fire ! Comment : "Thou shalt never run out of this One !" Colour : Beautiful oaky amber Score : 89
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : nope.. Ice : dude... Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[mikeymad]

cheers ganga, cya in a bit (on-line)

[mikeymad]

Highland Park 18yo - Large Brandy glass

Nose - Oranges, caramel, sherry notes, light cereal, light saltyness, very light rubber, toasted oats.
Palate - initial spice attack, orangey sweetness follows, wow - bananas?, cinnamon, light hony, salt on the finish, with light smoke
Finish - warming with spice mix, finishes in the mouth with a medium length.
Comments - intense, this glass kicked it all up a notch. The delivery to the palate changed the oily character to be almost gone. Interesting.

I liked it out of the brandy a little more......

Moving onto one more glass the Riedel Whisky Glass.

[mikeymad]

nice notes SoMK:

"drooling starts now "

[SoMK]

And on to the 18... Now, we're talking.

Highland Park 18
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : aHA ! now, we're really talking.. Sweet fresh malt, dried orange peels, wild flower/heather honey glaze and still this smoke in the background. Palate : Smooth, round and sweet but peat lingers on the back of the tongue then slightly salty with dark dark chocolate, spices and nuts. O so beautiful... Finish : Dry ! oak and smoking spices ... Comment : The ultimate heart warmer. That's the Viggo Mortensen of whiskies. Tough but classy Colour : Chestnut honey Score : 91
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : Island (non Islay) Water : nope Ice : Dude ! Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Danny]

Now for the 18.

Highland Park
Brand : Highland Park Expression : 18 year
Nose : Orange zest, a bit of cereal, mocha, Palate : Almonds, canned stone fruits, cloves, hints of tobacco and peat Finish : Medium long, sweet, light spice Comment : An more complex 12 Colour : Burnt Toffee Score : 89
Age : 18 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : Justa tad Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.