Highland Park Scotch Whisky 12 year -- 750 mL

Tasting Highland Park 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I decided to try Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Year. It’ll take a few sittings for me to fully appreciate how this whisky holds up and whether it matches the positive reviews I've read online.

Price

Highland Park is about double the price of Speyside whiskies like Glenlivet or Glenfiddich and is on par with Macallan 12 Year.

Taste

• Smoothness: Macallan is the smoothest 12-year-old single malt I've had, and Highland Park 12 ranks just below that.
• Flavor: There’s a hint of bite that nips at the periphery, with slight peatiness that gives it a more sophisticated flavor and aroma.
• Overall Impression: Well done! Highland Park 12 packs quite a bit into a mid-range single malt without sacrificing too much. I agree with online reviews that it’s a recommended choice for first-time single malt whisky drinkers, offering much more to experience compared to Macallan 12.

Aroma Concerns

One negative is the fragrance, which has something a little off. There’s a hint of what I can best describe as old dried seawater in the background. It could be my glass or just a quirk of this particular bottle, but I'll see if it persists in future tastings. On the bright side, if this is indeed part of its aroma signature, I can definitely recognize it by smell alone.

Closing Thoughts

This is a decent choice and can stand on par with Macallan 12. It holds its own but becomes much more interesting when compared with others.

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Update 7/25/15

After two weeks and my fourth dram, I’ve noticed the character of the whisky has improved. It might just need some time to breathe or perhaps I’m becoming more accustomed to it—maybe a bit of both.

Tonight, I’m pairing it with Swiss cheese and plain crackers. The cheese helps cleanse my palate before each sip. Although it’s improved, I must admit my preference still leans toward Macallan.

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Update 9/2/15

My apologies for my initial hesitation! This whisky truly needs time to breathe. It has become a rather exquisite drink. I had a particularly enjoyable evening where I imbibed several drams, and it was incredible.

It took quite a while for Highland Park 12 to reveal its true character, but it has proven itself a worthwhile addition to my liquor collection. I’ll likely buy another bottle of HP 12 in the near future.