Review by: Whiskery Turnip
What is this? Three Highland Park reviews in a row? I must be in the midst of a Highland Park themed week. Unlike some of the other malts I have reviewed this week, this is no anonymous Orkney, but a beautiful “Eye Land Pork.” I love the mischievous and obvious name used by the Whisky Jury. But what about the whisky? Read on.
Distillery: Highland Park
Bottler: The Whisky Jury.
Region: Scotland/Island Single Malt.
ABV: 48.3%.
Age: 11 years. Distilled in April 1998. Bottled in Sept 2019.
Cask type: Refill Hogshead.
Nose: Citrus, fennel, rose hip oil, maritime, finished pinewood, herbal and medicinal, dried mint, a touch of motor oil and heather.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, gentle, maritime, heather, driftwood, slightly waxy citrus, mint, subtle medicinal herbs.
Finish: Medium to long with mint, salt, and subtle citrus.
Mental Image: Medicinal Milkshakes.
Conclusion: The aroma landed me somewhere between a cozy ski lodge and a musty traditional Chinese medicine shop as cured citrus, finished pinewood, fennel, rose hip, mugwort, dried mint, and an array of herbal medicinal notes wafted out of the glass. A subtle maritime salt carried on with hints of motor oil and dry heather. Medium to light-bodied, gentle, and buttery, the flavor profile opened with a salty sea breeze and dried heather— a walk along the beach to admire driftwood and saltwater ponds. An almost waxy lemon citrus developed at the end with mint, melon rind, and teases of the medicinal herbs from the nose. The finish was medium to long with mint, salt, and subtle citrus.
A restrained and quiet dram, this Highland Park leaned more toward dried grass and herbs than fruit and sea— though all those elements were still present to one degree. I found this a tad light for my taste, though the finish had good staying power as the mint and citrus lingered pleasantly between sips.
I do not typically look up other reviews on something until I have posted my own; however, as my notes slightly differed from what I expected, I skimmed Whiskybase and a few different sites. While many of my notes match those I found, it seemed other reviewers picked out more fruit and less of those herbal notes than I did. So your mileage may vary; I thought this was an intriguing Highland Park and a bit different from the norm.
Final Score: 80.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 