Highland Park CS tasting notes
Mar. 15th, 2025 01:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
concert_goerHighland Park Cask Strength NAS 75cl 64.7% ABV
Release 5
A mix of first-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, refill, bourbon, and first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks
Bottle code L0041G L04 29/03 06:43
Color: amber.
Nose: Orkney peat, salty sea air, a bit of lacquer, maple syrup, sunflower seeds, bread crumbs, smoke, nuts, apples, dates, ham, dried mushrooms, vanilla, clove, tobacco, muesli, caramel, cherries in chocolate. Quite rich, with a lot of things going on.
Taste: peat, a touch of smoke, prunes, lemons, coffee, apricots, honey, pepper, blueberry pie, dates, salt, toffee. Powerful, and not overly sweet.
Finish: peat, pepper, salt, honey, caramel, cocoa, lemon zest, medicinal herbs. Good, though the youth of the malt becomes more noticeable here.
Score: 8 ¾. Better than good. +2+2+1.
Conclusion: a solid cask-strength Highland Park, despite its obvious youth. Both sherry and Orkney peat are clearly present, and the high ABV is very enjoyable. I wasn't in the mood to add water. 88/100. Didn't buy any of their previous official CS releases — looks like that was a mistake. Highland Park delivers as usual. Life is good.
Release 5
A mix of first-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, refill, bourbon, and first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks
Bottle code L0041G L04 29/03 06:43
Color: amber.
Nose: Orkney peat, salty sea air, a bit of lacquer, maple syrup, sunflower seeds, bread crumbs, smoke, nuts, apples, dates, ham, dried mushrooms, vanilla, clove, tobacco, muesli, caramel, cherries in chocolate. Quite rich, with a lot of things going on.
Taste: peat, a touch of smoke, prunes, lemons, coffee, apricots, honey, pepper, blueberry pie, dates, salt, toffee. Powerful, and not overly sweet.
Finish: peat, pepper, salt, honey, caramel, cocoa, lemon zest, medicinal herbs. Good, though the youth of the malt becomes more noticeable here.
Score: 8 ¾. Better than good. +2+2+1.
Conclusion: a solid cask-strength Highland Park, despite its obvious youth. Both sherry and Orkney peat are clearly present, and the high ABV is very enjoyable. I wasn't in the mood to add water. 88/100. Didn't buy any of their previous official CS releases — looks like that was a mistake. Highland Park delivers as usual. Life is good.
