This is not the first time we’ve dabbled in Highland Park scotch, we have of course posted tasting notes here on the 12-year-old and 30-year-old expressions. If you were unaware, The Highland Park distillery that is steeped in history, stands on a hill overlooking Kirkwell, Orkney’s mail town – on an area of common land long known as the High Park of Rosebank. Established in 1798, of course as an illicit distillery, Highland Park describe themselves as the most Northern distillery in the world that above all creates some of the most taste bud tingling Scotch whisky. Their whisky is known for being rich with notes of honey, oranges, oak, with a slightly salty nature but most intriguingly, a touch of smoke/peat.
On the nose: is an intensive waft of sweet, rich mixed fruits (currants), marzipan and an ever-so-subtle waft of peat. These initial notes are followed by lemon zest, a nutty aroma, green herbs, mint, spices, cinnamon and cardamom. Rounding-off the nose are notes of dark chocolate, toffee, salted caramel, Christmas cake, tobacco and clementines. On the palate: there are flavours of sweet, stewed raisins, peat, all-spice, vanilla and marzipan. These are followed by a rich dark chocolate ganache, mint, cardamom and cinnamon. Notes of old leather, tobacco, clementines and lemon rind start to emerge, with the palate completed by notes of ripe plums and green herbs. The finish: is long, smooth, sweet, with lingering currants and spices.
The verdict: The 30-year-old we posted tasting notes on at the latter part of last year was just sublime and offered up some brilliantly rich notes. This 40-year-old expression is almost like a more intense version that just keeps offering more and more rich, deep notes. It is so well-balanced with the right amount of sweetness, spiciness, body and peat that has great depth. With an ABV of only 47.5%, it’s not really a Scotch that requires any water but if required, then only add just a few drops. Also allowing it to breathe for 5 – 10 minutes, yields more notes too.
Highland Park 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available online or in-store at the Whisky Shop, for approximately £2,750.
For more information on this 40-year-old expression, visit the official Highland Park website.
