Highland Park 18 Year, Single Cask Nation “Stones of Stenness”
Whisky : Highland Park 18 Year, Single Cask Nation “Stones of Stenness”
Country/Region : Scotland/Islands
ABV : 54.8%
Cask : 2nd Fill Bourbon Barrel
Age : 18 Years (Distilled Nov. 1999, Bottled May 2018)
Nose : Citrus, sea, and faint herbs. Clean and crisp notes of lemon curd and lemon meringue enjoyed by the sea. Early sunset stroll by the shoreside; sweet, mineral, and salt-laden air as the last rays of the sun warm the rocks and evaporate the tide pools. A subtle background smoke became stronger, charred wood and grilled mussels, which brought to mind a maritime promenade of restaurants and cafes just opening up.
Palate : Medium-bodied with bright, crisp citrus, salt, and subtle smoke. Hints of acrid coal smoke and ash hung behind waves of sweet, salty citrus. Lemon, pomelo, and bitter orange came to mind as the citrus lingered across the palate with subtle herbal notes of tarragon and thyme. Toward the end were subtle reminders of burned incense and, when reduced, teakwood smoke with hints of white pepper and cinnamon.
Finish : Lingering citrus and salt.
Score : 7
Mental Image : Golden Hour Promenade
Notes : An absolute beauty, this Highland Park was a great example of the distillery at its best. I loved the crispness of the flavor profile as this embodied the citrus-maritime essence of a sunset margarita enjoyed by the shore. It was loaded with impressions of freshly lit seaside grills, the warm smell of sun-baked sand, and wisps of burning incense from an open temple courtyard. The aroma brought back specific and sweet memories of days long gone by.
This was not quite the coal crawler I usually get with Highland Park; I never felt as though I were on a steamship battling a great storm. I found it pleasant and different as the maritime notes almost took a back seat to loads of lovely sweet citrus. A bit of water brought the smoke forward along with oaky spices, which gave the dram an entirely new dimension to enjoy. Perhaps a tad on the light side, the dram had a relaxing quality ideal for porch sitting while nursing a healthy pour— no need to rush, no need to hurry.
Image Credit: Master of Malt
