The S&P crew here, delving into yet another Highland Park standard scotch. We've got their new Cask Strength heading out way soon as well, so look out for that review. Checking our list here, we're a little past halfway through Scotland's standard whisky offering. It's been a fun ride so far and we bet getting through that is only the beginning.
Highland Park 10, 40% ABV, $65 CAD, peated, ex-sherry ex-bourbon.
We sniff around.
Scott starts us off with apples, malty.
Sean follows up with apples, honey, peat.
Simon doesn't get much peat, more like a moldy apple.
Simple but nice nose. That moldiness we're getting is likely the peat. It's more of a fermented kind of aroma, nothing like the earthy or bonfire or smoked kind of peat you get from Islays. There's a debate about this. Scott doesn't really get it. It pops more for Sean. For Trevor it's the mustiness of the cottage when you open it up for the first time.
We cheers.
Apples.
Sean points to a little citrus. It's tart.
Trevor says there's a good spice on the finish. Simon says the heat isn't bad, but it kind of overpowers the rest of the flavors.
Some of us get a little chocolaty dryness on the finish.
Trevor goes vanilla.
Scott points to the good mouthfeel. Flavors are subtle though. Gets a slight orange peel. Hint of sour. Whisper of tootsie roll.
Reviews: Sean's pick so he starts. Overall pretty simple scotch. He likes the peat, he likes the citrus. He goes 78 on this. Scott give this a 70. Very simple. You can pull a couple things out. Good mouthfeel. Enjoys it, well done. Trevor puts a 68 here. he likes the nose, nothing complex but some cool things going on. Palate is a little overpowered by spice. Likes the chewiness. Simon's not impressed. He thinks this is pretty imbalanced and flat. He doesn't get the point of this scotch in Highland Park's catalogue. The 12 is superior in every way and isn't even in a different price bracket. The 12 makes the 10 obsolete as far as he's concerned. Gives this a 54. For Kyle it has nice features to it but on the bland side. Would rather stick to the 12. Stamps a 65 on it. Averages out to 67.
Overall: We're having a hard time coming to a consensus here. Some think this is just as good as the 12 and therefore you should get the 10 for slightly less money, and some think this is pretty boring and the 12 makes it obsolete. Up to you whether you want to find out. It does rank decent on our value scale at 73.
Cheers!
The S&P Crew.
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