The entry level bottling from Scotland's most northerly distillery, Highland Park, aged for 12 years. This is an older design, before the Highland Park range underwent a rebrand in 2017, and another in 2024. A fab find for a retro collection.
These bottles were part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
This dram is a balance of fresh fruit with a mild peat and a smokey blast. Would have liked it presented at 46% ABV but all given, it is a dynamic Scotch with complex elements and a rewarding finish. A great everyday Scotch for those with a discerning taste.
Tasted many expensive single malts from the Orkney region and the HP12 bodes well for those who love a smokey note with a tinge of woody sherried cask. For the price, this dram is by far a keeper on my shelf. For those who love strong peat, look the other way, nothing to see here. :)
First things first - this (in the UK) is a good value whisky. usually between £25 - £35 in most supermarkets and so available as well. It really is a good all rounder and I find the smoke and sweet sherry notes stand out in what is a well balanced dram. Yes it could be 46%, NCF - it is natural colour though :) - but for the money you get an easy drinking, fairly interesting malt that I would happily have in my stash! It really is like a good malt blend that has a bit of everything. Good for beginners or those who want to try a more peaty/smoky offering - but don't expect an Ardbeg or Laphroaig in that sense.
Just re-trying Highland Park 12 after realising I hadn't had it in over a year and couldn't remember why. I used to think it was the best whisky out there when I first got into the good stuff; it's 'all-rounder' profile and smooth-sweetness appealed to me. It still strikes me for its sweetness and velvety mouthfeel, but having now tried a range of sherried speysiders and rich malty highlanders, HP's flavour seems sacarine and lacking body. It goes without saying that peat-heads will also be disappointed by this, as the 'orcadian' peat smoke misses out the iodine and sea-salt notes completely.
Major disappointment, I'm sure this one was better in the past to deserve all those great reviews (all rounder. and so on). I did not find anything special (or even "decent") for this price and reputation.
