Highland Park 21 yo 47.5%

The bottle has just arrived from the auction, so why not open it?.. 

The story behind it: initially this 21 yo expression was launched at 47.5% strengh for travel retail in 2007. Later on in 2009 the strength was reduced to 40% and its quality ... let's say so ... diminished. I have tasted it in 2013 in Kirkwall, but too many years have passed, should refresh the impression. Here we go: 

Highland Park 21 yo 47.5% - modern flat shape bottle, classic HP colour, looks nice in the glass :) 

Nose: first impression is "more smoke than in 25 yo 48.1% and more honey than in standard 18 yo, just lies somewhere between them". Lots of flowers and honey, heather, oranges, grapes and apples, milk chocolate and coffee. Hints of wood smoke and sea in the background. 

Taste: rich, spicy and honeyed with a pinch of oak. 

Finish: long and spicy, drying and mouthwatering wave after wave, evident smoke with touches of chocolate and salt. 

Overall: wonderfully balanced Orkney malt possessing all Highland Park virtues, dangerously drinkable, delicious and smooth. Better than classic 18 yo though inferior to my beloved 25 yo 48.1%. That would be your personal choice how to spend your pocket money: EUR 100 for 18 yo 43% (89/100) vs EUR 200 for 21 yo 47.5% (91/100) vs EUR 400-500 for 25 yo 48.1% (94/100). Difficult choice :) 

Score = 23 22 23 23, 91/100!