Highland Park 12

[smn]

Is it legal to mature bourbon in barrels made of european oak? Now that would make an interesting whisky maturation.

[lockejn]

Is it legal to mature bourbon in barrels made of european oak? Now that would make an interesting whisky maturation.

It can't legally be called bourbon unless it's matured in American oak. But you could mature a bourbon-like whiskey in European oak for the desired result.

[lbacha]

I wonder if they are stating that their Single Malt only comes from sherry casks but they use Bourbon casks for whisky destined to be blended, I would think that would be the economical way to do it since Bourbon casks I believe are cheaper than sherry.

Len

[The Third Dram]

There's good and not-so-good oak to be found, whether it be ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, American, European or otherwise.

The fact that a producer utilizes ex-Sherry European oak casks for maturing its whisky doesn't necessarily imply the resulting high quality of the spirit that goes into the bottle. Plus, experts in wood maturation for whiskies seem to be increasingly focusing on the greater importance of the oak itself relative to the effects of what sort of other spirit or fortified wine might have previously rested in that oak.

Also, if one traces maturation trends back to the 19th-Century, one sees that preferences for one sort of cask/barrel over another tend to move in cycles. And these cycles are often largely driven by economics. Presently, high quality oak barrels of any ilk are steadily rising in cost.

[Klondike]

I just talked to a guy employed by the Highland Park distillery last week, and he said that the 12YO (latest bottling) is 100% ex-sherry casks. He actually mentioned a percentage of european and american oak, but I don't recall exact numbers. From memory I think it was 80% American and 20% European for the latest 12YO, but I'm not sure. I tried it and must say I was rather impressed, my experience much mirrors that of the OP. The guy from the distillery didn't say whether or not they still have bourbon casks maturing but I'm sure they do.

As a side note I have consumed a bottle of the 1977 21YO Bicentenary Release. I found a bit less Sherry than in the latest 12YO but a lot more peat. BTW; wasn't it 40% abv. and not 43% ?

Also agree that the 16YO 1 litre duty free bottling is sub-par re: the recent 12YO. Save the money and buy the 12YO IMHO.

[lbacha]

As a side note I have consumed a bottle of the 1977 21YO Bicentenary Release. I found a bit less Sherry than in the latest 12YO but a lot more peat. BTW; wasn't it 40% abv. and not 43% ?

I have a couple bottles of Bicentenary at home they are the 75cl US bottlings and they are 43% I believe, from everything I've heard the 70cl European bottles that came in the wooden box were 40%. I would love to get a sample of the 40% so I can compare the two since the Euopean bottle got good reviews but I can't find reviews on the US bottle.

Len

[Ganga]

HP Bicentenary -

[Klondike]

Ah, didn't realize there were multiple bottlings. Mine is a 70 cl. bottle at 40% abv.

HP Bicentenary -

Yes, magnificent stuff!!

[lbacha]

Ah, didn't realize there were multiple bottlings. Mine is a 70 cl. bottle at 40% abv.

HP Bicentenary -

Yes, magnificent stuff!!

Yeah there is the UK bottling @ 40% and then the US bottling @ 43% that came out a little later, not sure why they upped the proof. I havn't cracked open a bottle of it yet so I'm not sure if it is as good as the UK version which I tried at Limburg a few years back.

Len