Highland Park 1991 21 YO Directors' Cut

Highland Park 1991 21 YO Directors' Cut, 53,6 %

Highland Park is one of the distilleries I have tasted most whiskies from, 47 different ones. I usually find whisky from Highland Park to be very nice, whether it is distillery bottlings or releases from independent bottlers. In fact I have only scored four of these whiskies below 85 points.

Recently I swapped a sample of Freya and got a sample of the whisky I am reviewing today. This is a Highland Park from the independent bottler Douglas Laing. It is a release in their series Directors' Cut. It was distilled February 1991 and bottled October 2012. The cask, a refill sherry butt #9200, gave 285 bottles.

Highland Park 1991 21 YO Directors' Cut is available in Norway at NOK 1 775 (item number 425001). It is not available in Sweden.

Nose (23/25): Mmm...milk chocolate and fudge. Peach. Very soft smoke. Dusty. I tasted this whisky together with my husband. I told him I smelled a hint of Coca Cola, but he did not agree with me. I tried to explain what I meant, you know the strange sweetness. He still did not understand. since I do not drink Coca Cola or other sodas maybe it is just something strange with my nose ;)

Taste (22/25): Rich. Soft smoke. Orange. Oak and spices. A short burst of caramel.

Finish (21/25): Dry and woody. Spicy. Nut shell. Orange zest. Warm and lingering. White pepper.

Balance (22/25): Again: A really nice Highland Park. Sweet on the nose with a fresh taste. The finish was more dry with the oak more pronounced.

Score (88/100)

Thanks, Stian!

Image from The Whisky Barrel.

- Tone