Highland Park 15 Years Old Fire Edition 45.2% NV

Avis professionnels

Serge Valentin (87)

Colour: gold, not reddish.

Nose: I find it rather brutal and vegetal at first nosing, with pumpkins and beetroots, and certainly some blackcurrant leaves, moss, fern… Also whiffs of peonies (might be the Port) and a mineral/smoky side. Coal smoke, old stove, then a little menthol… It’s certainly quite coastal, but then again, the city of Oporto almost lies on the Atlantic coast, doesn’t it.

Mouth: I like the palate rather better, which isn’t common. It’s smoky whisky, it’s got notes of jelly babies and raspberry jam, and both do tango (which isn’t very common either in my experience). It’s got a ‘smoky Port’ side, and to my utter amazement, that works. In the background, quite a lot of nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as blood oranges that just lift it.

Finish: rather long, still on smoked and spiced raspberries.

Comments: I’d have never thought this would work – but then again, they know what they’re doing. I liked the ‘Ice Edition’ just a little better (WF 88).

Whisky Notes (84)

Nose: hmm, vegetal notes up front, with some cooked grains and damp ferns. Opens up on blackberries and prunes. A little vanilla and toffee. Hints of charcoal. Then more fragrant hints of raspberry jam and whiffs of hibiscus. Reminds me of the core range Highland Park, with little make-up from the Port, that’s good.

Mouth: slow start, mostly on citrus notes, before it diverts into smoky notes (elegant and delicious I must say) as well as dark ruby fruit (damsons, forest fruit jam). Overbaked cinnamon pastry. Maybe not as firey as you’d think, but the warm, glowing smokiness is great.

Finish: medium, on raspberry and a hint of peppery smoke.
This Highland Park Fire Edition revolves around dark fruits and warm smoke.

Intensity is not very high though, and I’m not fond of the vegetal notes on the nose. Nonetheless one of the best Port matured whiskies I’ve tried.

BOW (88)

The successor to the Highland Park Ice edition, what more to say…simply just suburb!