Good afternoon. Simon here from S&P digging into a sample I've got here of Highland Park's first batch of their cask strength no age statement release.
Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 1: 63% ABV, $130 CAD, Sherry seasoned american oak casks, no age statement, from the Island of Orkney.
Sniffing her:
Malty apples. Toffee. Murky nose.
Cheers!
That first sip is rough. OK, it's syruppy, malty. Warm. Maple syrup. Some little herbal notes in the background. Butterscotchy.
Adding water: oaky butterscotch. Richer and thicker mouthfeel. Baking spices. Great burps on this.
Overall/Review: I can see the Highland Park 12 resemblance, but honestly, I prefer the 12. This is so hot my mouth is ruined right now. That said it drinks very well with a couple drops of water in it. I will be finishing my sample just adding a few drops right away. Overall this is good, but it drinks too hot without the extra layers I'd expect from a cask strength. I wouldn't buy a bottle and I would ask whether there's Highland Park 12 if someone offered it to me. Still a respectable 74 from me. It's good. I shared a bit of this with Scott a few months back and he had similar feedback as well. We didn't put a number on it at the time but I'd expect he's in the same ballpark.
Cheers!
Simon from S&P.
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