Whisky: Highland Park 14 Year (2007), The Single Cask Ltd. Cask 20 “Orkney”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 65.5%

Cask: First Fill PX Octave Finish

Age: 14 Years (Distilled 29 March 2007, Bottled 20 Sept. 2021)

Nose: Industrial and medicinal with ash, brine, tar, and mellow industrial coal smoke, a touch herbal with camphor, menthol, heather, and dried grass.

Palate: Medium-bodied and oily, maritime brine, earth, dried fruits, haw flakes, dried persimmons and plums, cured pineapple rings, earthy dried mushroom, hints of licorice and pepper, velvety sweet smoke, salty and maritime, hints of coal and iron.

Finish: Long and lingering with salt and cured fruits.

Score: 7-8

Mental Image: Cherry Icee with Li Hing Mui

Narrative & Notes: A Highland Park so good that German pirates stole the shipment! Okay, not entirely German pirates, but this cask, destined for Singapore, ended up in Germany instead. The label bears the mark of one of the owners in Singapore who selected it only to find it disappear into the ether and never arrive. During a visit to a German whisky festival, he finally had a chance to try the whisky again and repatriated a single bottle back to Singapore— the rest had disappeared into the glasses of some thirsty Germans.

I am, of course, joking; no one stole the shipment, but through the vagaries of international shipping and logistics, end up in Germany instead of Singapore. If pirates had been involved, I can see why they would target this cask. It reminded me of a similarly aged and finished Highland Park from SMWS earlier this year, though that one was a touch meatier and less fruity. The finish was particularly lovely as it sat on the palate with almost syrupy cured fruits and a kiss of salt.

Overall, delicious. The flavors reminded me of the old-fashioned Crack Seed or local Chinese candy shops with their jars of sweet confections, syrups, and cured, salted, or pickled fruits. I love the combination of herbal spices and concentrated dried fruits in syrup or over a bowl of shaved ice, and this dram brought at least the memory of that to the table.