Highland Park extravaganza

Highland Park 8 years old, bottled at 70 proof

First things first: A sample gifted to me by my good friend Robbert. This was bottled in 757 ml sized glass, bottled at 40 % abv,  closed with a screwcap. Bottled around the 1970s. Old distillate! 

Upon Sipping: Some of these bottles have not time-travelled well, and the ones that were good, mostly had a 43 % abv on them. So, we fear for this one. I let it breathe for a while, but still the nose is drenched in the aroma of broth and metallic screw cap. Still, underneath that, we do pick up some typical Highland Park heather and sweet smoke. This is only 8 years old, of course, so we need not expect wonders. The taste continues down the heathery path, with sweet alcohol tingle on the tongue. It did suffer a little, but considering how hot this still is, it must have been quite the whisky when it was fresh. With water, some freshly cut grass on the nose, and lemony brine on the tongue. Some light fruits on the tongue. The finish is very meaty. Metallic fingerprints all over.

Word to the Wise: Anecdotal whisky at the least, but underneath the silent years in the bottle there is still life in this modest Highland Park 8 years old. 

Score: 80 points.

Highland Park 10 years old, Viking Scars, bottled at 40 % abv

First things first: A standard Highland Park expression that was around for roughly 8 years until it was discontinued, as all “Viking” themed bottlings are now more or less gone. I knew the internet once trembled when the trusted Serge Valentin scored an early version of this bottling 90 points. Yes, I also bought a bottle. Let’s see if we can agree with this later version (bottled around 2022, thanks for the sample Hans S.). 

Upon Sipping: A special nose in any case, because it mixes beautiful smoky, peaty vanilla with more tropical elements. Especially the latter is really surprising in such a young Highland Park, which uses peated malt, but you would be forgiven if you missed it in this expression. Tasting it after the old 8 above, this HP has in common that the heathery notes are strong. That makes this whisky as much a Highland soul as an island character. The best of both worlds, I suppose! The palate is rather thin, focused and sharp, but very fragile. A tad simple even, until you swallow, and then the peated side of the Highland Park Viking Scars reveals itself. Beautiful, briny notes, with hints of herbal chocolate (is that a thing?). This is not far off from the new Highland Park 12 years old, that carries more sherry influenced casks in the mix. Because of the much fruitier character I pick up in this one, it stands out more.

Word to the Wise: An a-typical Highland Park, that fully banks on the fruitier, tropical side of the spirit. If you can find it for the original RRP, it is still a steal! 

Score: 85 points.

An Orkney Distillery, 2007 – 13 years old, bottled at 48 % abv by Elixir Distillers

First things first: Matured in three ex-sherry butts, bottled in 2020 as part of Parcel No. 4 in the Single Malts of Scotland – Reserve Casks series. 

Upon Sipping: Alright, subtlety overboard, let’s go for this dark golden undisclosed Highland Park. It opens more modest than I expected, but the sherry notes are dominant of course. Chocolate and dark red fruits up front, with hints of furniture polish and dry leather. On the tongue, luscious and wood driven, getting dryer and dryer towards the finish. Lots of pure, 90 % cacao chocolate. Good stuff, perhaps too one-dimensional? With a little water, it opens up more, all on ice-cold and damp warehouse where the angels are munching on their share. An unpleasant sour note is introduced on the tongue, that fades into a heathery peated finish. Ooph, quite a rollercoaster here, at times likeable, sometimes difficult, but not boring in any case. 

Word to the Wise: Has some flaws and the casks are very dominant, but certainly an entertaining whisky you could even put in a tumbler. 

Score: 83 points.

Orkney (HP), 2010 – 14 years old, bottled at 57,1 % abv by Signatory Vintage

First things first: Edition #38 in the by now trusted 100 proof series by Signatory. This Highland Park matured in first fill Oloroso sherry butt and bourbon hogshead. Bottled 25 February 2025.

Upon Sipping: Lots of caramel on the nose, and in general more complexity than the previous three samples (all tasted in one session). If you try really hard, you will find a tropical fruit note in the distance. Maybe water will reveal more of that, but first we will sip undiluted. Quite a briny, meaty Highland Park at first sight, but then the chocolate comes through, coupled with a quite fierce and rough peaty signature towards the finish. Ha, the sherry and bourbon casks are really battling it out, and we as a consumer come out as the winner. This feels like the Viking Scars and the Elixir combined into one. With water: more smoke on the nose, like someone burning some waste (illegally) in his shed or on the backside of his land. Perhaps some gunpowder. Nothing of this transfers to the palate, where the fruitier side of this Highland Park shines through. I would love to know the divide between those sherry and bourbon casks. This gives me the vibes of the recent 2025 edition of the Springbank 12 years old cask strength. High praise, and justified! 

Word to the Wise: Bottlings in the 100 proof series are rarely missing the mark, and this undisclosed Highland Park is no exception. It has some rough edges, but it makes up for that with sheer adventure and vibrant character.

Score: 87 points.