Highland Park 17 Year (2003), Hunter Laing “Orkney Distillery” for K&L
Whisky: Highland Park 17 Year (2003), Hunter Laing “Orkney Distillery” for K&L
Country/Region: Scotland/Islands
ABV: 54.9%
Cask: Refill Hogshead
Age: 17 Year (Distilled Aug. 2003, Bottled March 2021)
Nose: Salt, citrus, and vanilla. Sweet salinity with sea breezes, limoncello, vanilla bean with salted caramel biscuits, and hints of heather. The aroma became creamier with time as vanilla remained in the foreground and citrus slipped to the back.
Palate: Medium-bodied with loads of citrusy complexity, mild herbs, and a sweet salinity. Opened with grapefruit, orange rind, kumquats, and lime leaves. Elements of maritime brine with herbal notes of menthol and chamomile transitioned back to fruit at the end— passion fruit and underripe pineapple especially. Kiss of peppery spice a the end that lingered into the finish.
Finish: Lingering notes of pepper and citrus.
Score: 7
Mental Image: Sleepy Time Tea
Notes: A wonderfully mellow and citrusy Highland Park, this dram featured subtle layers of herbal peat citrus, salt, and a lovely pepper that lingered through the finish. The nose was surprisingly creamy and vanilla, two notes that barely appeared on the palate. I suppose that made the dram a tad disjointed, yet, grapefruit and heather lingered in the background of the nose, which certainly foreshadowed the citrus and herbal-grassy notes of the palate.
I am not often singing the praises of Highland Park, and I suspect that I am cooler on the distillery than most. That said, this dram was delicious with nice fruity complexity, though I wish some coal, smoke, or tar had come through. When I want to introduce someone who is a bit peat-nervous to the world of peat, I like Highland Park. It is typically gentle and mellower compared to the south coast Islay stalwarts. This bottle was a perfect example of a mellow coastal peat teasing and swimming in the background of a sweeter profile.
Image Credit: u/maltingfloor’s review on reddit.
