Highland Park 14 Year Old - Duncan Taylor Single Cask - 54.7%
From the Spirits Embassy website
This Highland Park was matured in oak cask 50171249 which produced 310 bottles. It was distilled in 11.2007 and bottled at cask strength 54.7% ABV in 07.2022.
The single cask collection from Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited is an outstanding range of single malt and single grain whiskies from across the length and breadth of Scotland.
Bottled from single casks at cask strength, these unique whiskies are a testament to diversity and influence of individual casks, offering unrepeatable expressions from both renowned and lesser known distilleries. Neither chill filtered nor artificially coloured, only the finest whiskies are selected for inclusion in the Single Cask Collection ensuring that each release delivers the multi-dimensional character of the distillery.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Pale gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling as thick, oily legs.
Nose: Green apples, stone fruit, heather honey, vanilla tablet, honey, a hint of beeswax and sea breeze.
Palate: Oily and mouthcoating, malted milk biscuits followed by a sweet burst of caramel sauce, vanilla tablet and honey. After a little time in the mouth, pine forests appear, together with maritime salt and a touch of white pepper heat. Addition of water brings more peppery spice but little else.
Finish: Long, with honeyed sweetness and a touch of brine. Soft, subtle smoke appears as you exhale.
Summary: Unusually for an independent bottling, Duncan Taylor are allowed to use the Highland Park name (as opposed to a reference to Orkney) as these casks were purchased before the distillery stopped permitting it’s usage.
A really interestingly whisky, the nose is decent but this is all about the palate for me. Lots of typical Highland Park character and a lovely oily mouthfeel, which leads into a lingering sweet finish. The use of an ex-bourbon cask has brought plenty of that vanilla and caramel. The nod to their island origin is also there in the maritime brine, whilst the smoke is subtle to give an extra dimension right at the very end.
Current price point is £119.99 so it’s outside the daily drinker category, however it’s single cask, non chill-filtered and there are only 310 bottles in existence. One of the better Highland Parks I’ve had recently and certainly worthy of attention.
If you would like to know more about the Highland Park distillery and their range of whiskies, follow the link to the company website.
Transparency: This sample was part of a 5 dram sample set, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.
