Highland Park Dark Origins celebrates the early days of Magnus Eunson's illicit distilling on Orkney, back before the distillery was even founded in 1798. Magnus worked as a butcher and church official by day, but by night he was a legendary whisky smuggler and distiller outwitting the exciseman.
To honour their hero (the Batman of the Orkney Islands, if you will), Highland Park created a whisky with a suitably 'dark' character. Using 80% first-fill sherry casks (20% refill) - 60% are first-fill European oak, with 20% being first-fill American oak - an exciting, spicy, chocolatey whisky has been produced.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Dusty baking spices and cocoa at first, cinnamon, vanilla, dates. Coffee cream Revels (possibly a couple of the orange ones too), a touch of blackcurrant/liquorice, plus butterscotch and an interplay between milk and dark chocolate.
Sweet, fragrant peat emerges with nutty melted milk chocolate and a little orange alongside some pastries.
Long and sweet, a little dry chocolate, just a hint of that heather smoke, then salivating.
Rounded first-fill Sherry notes come from both the European and American oak casks. This is a great, chocolatey addition of a (teenage) no age statement release.
The peat and smoke flavour are nice, but it's harsher than many others. Poured a round for my relatives after Christmas dinner this evening, and after 30 minutes was surprised to see that several people barely touched it.
A bit rough. Almost anything else you try in this price range is going to be better. I'd rather have the 12 year HP.
Not what I would expect from a nearly €100 bottle. Without its marketing team, Highland Park would never be able to sell. There are spirits that sell by themselves, this is not one. Mild sherry on the nose, some red fruit and more sherry on the palate, insignificant finish. Nothing rough or unpleasant, just anonymous.
Must say the package look great,and thats all.was expecting dark rich malt,to match.whisky was poorlight in colour hotno depth. Id cladly give it back.sorry.
This expression reminds me of HP 15, though both peat and sherry influences are more intense. I had expected the rich sherry cask influence, but I was surprised and delighted that the peat is an equal partner. Peat and mild smoke are immediately evident on the nose, along with sweet buttery syrup, malt, red berries, and a hint of vanilla. The palate is robust and complex. The peat and smoke are more pronounced than in other HP expressions, and is well integrated with the rich sweet tang of sherry. There is also a delicious spicy/peppery nip, bitter dark chocolate and tart cherry jam. The finish is incredibly long and sweet, with smoke and mild pepper. Balance is excellent. Dark Origins is only slightly more expensive than HP 15 year, and in my opinion well worth the extra cost.
