Highland Park Dark Origins 46.8% NAS

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (87)

According to the distillers, this newish NAS version uses 'twice as many first fill sherry casks than in the classic Highland Park 12 year old'. So, which proportion of first fill sherry is there in the classic 12 yo?

Colour: deep gold.

Nose: I shouldn’t have read that, as I’m now finding a style that reminds me of the older silkscreened 12 yos. My mind playing tricks, probably. Heather honey and roasted chestnuts plus quite some polished wood, warm sawdust and raisins. Then touches of earth and a little camphor, always a jolly good sign. If you wait long enough, you’ll also find oranges and chocolate, rather ala Dalmore.

Mouth: starts slightly smoky and liquoricy, before many dried fruits join in the dance. The oak feels a bit, and I wouldn’t say it’s a perfectly polished old HP, but the smoke and even the zesty minerality that sits in the background do make up for that side. I think it’s a success.

Finish: long, and even smokier. One of the smokiest recent HPs if you ask me. That’s a surprise. Salted liquorice and smoked ham in the aftertaste.

Comments: beats the NAS warriors if you ask me, and it seems that it’s rather fairly priced. Okay, it doesn’t beat the lovely ‘Ragnvald’.

Gal Granov (85)

Gal Granov:

Nose: Much creamier and chocolaty-ier than the highland parks were used to (12/18/16). Chocolate mousse. Almonds. Butterscotch and kirsch / berries and red fruit. But not to worry that signature hp heather smoke is there too.

Palate: Chocolate brownies and sweet yet earthy peat with a punch of nuts and butterscotch filling. Smoke. Raisins. Spices and rich sweet dough. A bit of an alcohol peppery bite.

Finish : Chocolate. Malt. Smoke. Heathery peat smoke. Lovely.

I’d really like owning a bottle, and the dramatic bottle design, might make it a brilliant present for someone who appreciates whisky, and is a HP fan, and does not own this bottle yet.

Words of Whisky (83)