Highland Park 18 Years Review

“Comfortable All-Rounder”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland-Island-Orkney

Brand: Highland Park

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 18 Years

ABV:  43 % 

Date: 02/05/2014

Colour: Golden/Light Amber

Nose: It's important to give the HP 18 sufficient time in the glass. At first I find Elegant Earthy Peat, light Leather, Straw, Heather, Dried Herbs, Walnuts, Dried Fruit, Buttered Toast, Oak, Espresso, Treacle, Toffee, light Vanilla, Malt, Salt and some light Fruit Notes (Papaya, Apple, Peach, Pineapple). The Alcohol is not yet fully integrated. Finally some light Spices, mainly Cinnamon. It's comfortable rather than spectacular. Well balanced but a bit on the Thin Side. It's more mature than the 12 years but quite comparable.

Palate: The delivery is on the Thin Side. This Single Malt deserves to be bottled at around 48%. What a difference that would make. Still, it's not bad of course. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Heather, Honey, Walnuts, Dried Fruit, Oak, light Licorice, Citrus, Dusty Peat, Straw, light Smoke, Dried Herbs, Salt, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pepper, Espresso, Vinegar, Marzipan, Marshmallow and some Red Fruit.

Finish: Middle Long and Herbal with light Smoke, light Licorice, Buttered Toast, Barley Sugar, Toffee, Citrus, Pepper, Nutmeg, Salt and a hint of Milk Chocolate.

I added a bit of Water and that enhances the Fruit on the Nose somewhat. It becomes dangerously drinkable with Water. Safer to sip it neat! But you can experiment with a few drops!

Rating: 88

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: Highland Park, founded in 1798, is the most northerly distillery in Scotland and is located on the Orkney Isles off the North-East coast of Scotland. The distillery uses local Orcadian Peat, that mostly consists of Heather and other Plants. Only a limited amount of the Malt is dried with Peat though. Highland Park matures its spirits mainly in Ex-Sherry casks from both Spanish and, curiously, American Oak. Highland Park is one the very few remaining distilleries that malts (at least part of) the Barley on their own malting floor. The HP 18 years was introduced in 1997. The HP 18 will cost you on average 125 US Dollars but prices may vary a lot from place to place.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The HP 18 has won many prices and lots of people love this stuff. And I can see why. It's not too strong on the Peat nor on the Fruit, nor on the Spices, nor on the Wood. You will get a bit of everything but all in a balanced and measured way. A typical Fire-Place sipping Single Malt. It has one great flaw though. The ABV is simply too low for such a good spirit. With an ABV of around 48% the Nose would show its Aromas much quicker and clearer. And on the Palate the HP 18 would arrive in the strong way this spirit deserves. The way it is, the HP 18 is a good Single Malt but probably a tad too expensive. The 12 Years has a better Price/Quality Ratio despite its youth and shortcomings. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                     May 2, 2014

Tullibardine 15 Years Review

“A Light Summer Appetizer"

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland (Central)

Brand: Tullibardine 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 15 Years

ABV: 40 %

Date: 30/04/2014

Colour: Chardonnay

Nose: Simple, Light, Floral and Perfumed. I find light Honey, light Vanilla, Nuts, Lemon Zest, Barley Sugar, light Butterscotch, Marzipan, light Alcohol, light Oak Toast, Butter Kekse (German Butter Biscuits) and a hint of grated Chocolate or perhaps Cocoa Powder.

Palate: Slightly Thin Delivery. This was to be expected given the low ABV. The Alcohol is more noticeable on the Palate. I also find Sweet Barley, Oak, Vanilla, Butter Kekse, Milk Chocolate, light Honey, light Spices (Pepper mainly), Lemon Zest, Grapefruit Juice, slightly Bitter Orange Juice and a bit of Mint.

Finish: Middle-Long. Bitter Sweet at first but mostly Dry towards the end. I find a light Alcohol Bite. Also Sweet Barley, light Wood, Grapefruit Juice or slightly Bitter Orange Juice, Pepper and Lemon.

I added a little Water and you get more Barley and Marzipan on the Nose. But Palate and Finish become too Watery. Better sip it neat. 

Rating: 81

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: This 15 Year Old Tullibardine is part of the old Standard Distillery Bottlings alongside a.o. the 10 years and the NAS Aged Oak. In 2013 they were replaced by the NAS Sovereign, the 225 Sauternes Finish, the 228 Burgundy Finish, the 500 Sherry Finish, the 20 and 25 Years. It won't be easy to find this 15 Years but it would probably sell at around 50 US Dollars. The 15 Years matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks.

The Tullibardine Distillery was founded in 1949 and is located in Blackford (Perthshire) on the site of a former Brewery. In 1995, Tullibardine was mothballed by Whyte & Mackay, the owners at that time. Production was resumed in 2003 when the distillery was sold to Tullibardine Distillery Ltd. In 2011, the French Maison Michel Picard from Chassagne Montrachet became the new owner.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: This Tullibardine certainly smells and tastes younger than its 15 Years. And the Casks did not leave a huge impression on the Spirit. It's Simple, Floral, Perfumed and Malty. On the Nose, the Alcohol seems reasonably well integrated but on the Palate and in the Finish it is more present. In conclusion, I find this Single Malt rather plain and uneventful although it might work as an appetizer on a warm Summer Day!

Jan van den Ende                                                                             April 2014