🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

damn what a whisky its not cheap but its worth the money 89/100

I have another bottle of Gordon & MacPhail in the glass, this time it is the Highland Park, which was filled into bourbon barrels in 1988 and bottled in 2013. I am delighted to be able to enjoy a bourbon barrel aging this time after the last three whiskys from Gordon & MacPhail were allowed to mature in sherry barrels. Here, too, the whisky has a wonderful golden hue and was bottled with 43% alcohol. On the nose I immediately have light fruits that have been sprinkled with vanilla sugar. Ripe apples and pears, a few drops of a freshly squeezed lemon, orange peel, apricots and everything is wrapped in a soft, creamy vanilla note reminiscent of vanilla ice cream, which is just beginning to melt. Now the spices and herbs are a bit more present, cocoa powder can be felt in the background and is combined with a slight woodiness. Everything looks very harmonious and suitable, so far I like the whisky very much. I find it a little difficult whether I recognize smokiness or not. This is so subtle that I could take it for an aromatic spiciness. In the mouth, the Highland Park initially tingles on the tongue with pepper and a hot ginger. I would not have expected that. Now the smoke becomes clearer and gradually spreads throughout the mouth. Pepper, herbal sweets, a slight bitterness, some leather, liquorice, dark dark chocolate, walnuts and dry forest soil displace the few fruits that are still noticeable at the beginning, but then fade rather quickly. The whisky is really bitter in the mouth and for me personally it is a bit too much, even if the interaction with the delicate smoke is pleasing. The finish is medium to long with liquorice, leather, dark dark chocolate, a slowly fading smoke and a very gentle greeting from the orange peel and the apricots. But the bitter notes are dominant, I have to make that clear here. After the 3rd-4th Sip notes of liquorice, which I find quite successful. All in all a great whisky that was most convincing on the nose. In the mouth, the tannins and the spiciness take control too much, the balance that was still there with the smell is too much out of whack. I liked yesterday's Linkwood 25 and the day before yesterday's Glenlivet 21 a little better. That's why I got 87/100 points for Highland Park.

Nose: Sweet bright fruits with some apple and pear. Then come caramel and vanilla. A subtle smokiness paired with a citrus fruit and an oriental spice note. • Taste: There is a little ginger or pepper spiciness right at the start. Then I find honey, red berries and some nuts. The smoke is very delicate but always present. Orange zest and 50% dark chocolate follow. • Outlet: Long with a nice sweet fruit, chocolate and some white pepper.

Nose: peach, mango, vanilla, sweet yeast dough, lemon, some leather in the background Mouth: fresh sweetness, light pepper, oily, velvety on the tongue, a hint of smoke Finish: medium-long, slightly tingling spiciness paired with honey sweetness