Highland Park 16-year-old

Tasted 11/25 in ZH Volkshaus.

German Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/HeNNhjWR6hs

A substantial portion was matured in Swedish Virgin Oak, supplemented by a few bourbon and sherry casks. It was a difficult decision during the visit to the distillery whether to take this home, but a Half Hearth in Virgin Oak tipped the scales. At home, I was able to do a H2H alongside the 16-year-old "Swallows Return". Nose: Spicy, charcoal, slightly smoky, menthol, fruitcake, anise. Much more layered and darker than the Swallows Return! Taste: 48% ABV is a good choice; a nice, zesty, spicy entry. Partly due to the Virgin Oak, the peat is barely discernible; at most, a very subtle smoky flavor alongside the oak and some tobacco. Starts spicy with bitter chocolate, raisins, dried fruit, and marmalade. Later, the sweeter flavors come to the fore, such as honey, caramel, and yet a bit more citrus fruit. Surprisingly mild vanilla flavor for a Virgin Oak. Perfect, long, warming, spicy finish. The tagline "Smooth, Complex & Layered" is entirely accurate. A very special edition with a completely different character than the 16Y Swallows Return.

A rather warm Sherry presence, with a hint of mandarin and just the right amount of peat. Light, briny freshness, soft caramel, lime slices, cinnamon, and candied cherry. Hazelnuts, mint leaf, juicy peaches and pears. Spicy, slightly tangy and woody on the palate, blood orange, honeycomb, heather, banana, and marzipan. Blond tobacco, dried fruit, and white melon. The finish is not very strong but long, delicately smoky, with orange peel, chalky bubbles, melting toffee, herbaceous notes, angelica, and reeds. A touch of anise. This one seems very successful to me, it has a unique identity, due to the Virgin Swedish Oak Casks, but also a certain citrusy freshness, it's almost a summer whisky despite the peat, which is very little present anyway. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2026/06/highland-park-16-yo-between-you-and-i.html

Very pretty, balanced, with nothing out of place, for better or for worse.