Whisky Review - Highland Park 1979

This is a whisky review of Highland Park 1979, 27 years 46.2% (Orkney)

This 27 year old Highland Park was bottled by the Independent Bottler Murray McDavid at Bruichladdich. It has matured in a bourbon cask but ended up in a Syrah cask for a couple of months.

Colour:
Mahogany

Nose, without water:
Warming

Nose, with water:
Fruity, sweet, phenols, smoke

Body:
Medium

Mouth feel:
Rough

Primary taste:
Salt - bitter

Overall flavour:
Sour wine

Finish:
Medium long - medium

Conclusion:

I had high expectations about this one but was a bit suspicious to the Syrah cask. Unfortunately I was right. This was a total disappointment. You wonder why you put a 27 year old Highland Park in a wine cask. This is normally a very good whisky. I suspect that something has happened during the maturation with the cask and destroyed the whisky and they have tried to save it by “enhancing” it in another cask.