This is a review of the second release of the much-respected Highland Park Cask Strength bottling. As many missteps as the official Highland Park core expressions have seen in their blitz of Viking-forward marketing (and what many regard as a lapse in quality of many of their whiskies), the Cask Strength line has received almost unanimously good reviews.
The first edition was matured an unknown amount of time in sherry-seasoned American oak casks, and bottled at 63.3% ABV. This second edition still carries no age statement, matured in a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks, and is now bottled at 63.9%. Word around the net is that the average age of the contents is about 12-13 years, with some much younger stuff in there, young enough that Highland Park felt it wise to leave the age off the label. No matter - let's journey to Orkney:
Nose: Faint raisins, white chocolate, minerals and smoke, sour pear and apple, ginger (the actual root, not the powdered baking spice), honey, heather.
Mouthfeel: Rich, lush, oily mouthfeel.
Palate: A really big, powerful palate. I am no stranger to cask strength Highland Parks - I've had at least six or seven in the last couple years - and this is right up there with the better ones. Grass/heather, hay, chalk, a little wax, apple sauce, ginger, smoke, pepper, pear-in-honey... very nice.
Finish: Coffee (!), chocolate, pepper, and oak. Quite a nice, brisk, refreshing finish on this.
Verdict: Just as good as the first edition. I would say without hesitation that this is the best bottle that Highland Park currently puts out, and should be on anyone's short list of official cask strength bottlings. A lovely whisky, whose good points are firmly underscored by the high proof.
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