Scotch Malt Whisky Society Highland Park 1970, 4.73

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 14 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.

Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes.

• Issue 14 online • Buy issue 14 (£5.95)
• Subscribe to Whisky Magazine (from £28.38)
• Preview current issue (73) • Preview other issues online

Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Oaky. Smoky, earthy, salty. Palate Big layered. Sooty, oily. Finish More peat. Almost abrasive. Comment Not as sophisticated as the distillery bottlings, but robustly salty, earthy and peaty. Good characteristics, but in this bottling they mask the maltiness and sherry character. I wonder whether all island whiskies once tasted like this?

Jim Murray Nose Voluptuous and bulging at the sporran with the richest, ripest sherry you will find. Palate Enormous dexterity: despite the massive sherry start there are many layers of malt. Finish Almost endless with further honey-peat riches hanging on to the silky malt-sherry body. Comment Looking for a 30 Years Old sherry cask malt that is just about blemish free and boasting a mind boggling complexity? I've found one here...