Sherry or bourbon? That is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in bourbon to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against the casks of sherry
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep.
That would be competition of 2 styles: traditional sherried Highland Park and its spirit matured in one single bourbon cask for 30 years.
Highland Park 25 yo 45.7% - that is recent version of 25 yo (in 2012 the strength of 25 and 30 yo releases was reduced from 48.1% to 45.7%), some say that older ones are better, that's what I'll try to check tonight. Tastings of 25 yo 48.1% you can find here and here.
Nose: smoked pear, dark fruits, chocolate and oranges. Not too persuasive at the beginning, though gets better and better. Develops into sweet apples and honey.
Taste: quite dry, full of chocolate and oranges, oak, spices and wood smoke.
Finish: lo-o-ong, dryness passes into sweetness, tons of spices (ginger, pepper, cloves), slightly tannic, soft smoke appears as you breathe. Just perfect Orcadian aftertaste.
Overall: I presume that I liked previous 48.1% version just a bit more, but new one is also utterly good. God bless their casks!
Score = 23 22.5 23.5 23, 92/100!
Highland Park 30 yo 1981/2011 TWA Funghi 52.2% - 198 bottles released, ex-bourbon wood.
Nose: restrained at first, needs some time. Opens up into fresh grass, cream and mineral palette. If previous sample was red and yellow, this one is yellow and green (don't ask me why). After another 5 min lots of waxes and oils arise. Peat is more expressive than in 25 yo and not so heathery sweet.
Taste: more powerful comparing with 25 yo, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, anise, pepper and cloves.
Finish: I'd say a bit shorter than in 25 yo, but long enough in any case. Dry and mineral, lemons again, lots of smoke, pepper, oak and wax.
Overall: not easy but very interesting Highland Park, which gives you notion about neat spirit character after 30 years of maturation.
Score = 22 23 23 23, 91/100!
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