Highland Park 25 yo 1992 / 2017 Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting 59.8% vs Mortlach 30 yo 1989 / 2019 Douglas Laing #DL13722 52.4%
Another two bottles that went in a flash:
Highland Park 25 yo 1992 / 2017 Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting 59.8%
A curious pale green hue to this whisky. I find more of this peaty-earthy complex than other Highland Parks of the early 90s, but very familiar ground nonetheless. Dry earthy smoke, burnt tea leaves and dried sprigs, lit coals and lighter fluid. Hot in the sense of glazed clay in the furnace, and flints in the firepit. Oh quite earthy really. Upturned undergrowth, green fruit peelings, unripe peaches, green hay, galbanum. Great whisky. Quite austere on the tongue, and its power is clear, some may call this harsh even, but I think there is much to be had here. Also I love this style. 91 pts
Mortlach 30 yo 1989 / 2019 Douglas Laing #DL13722 52.4%
Mortlach seems to want time, but is also happy to develop magnificently while you wait. Here the characteristic meatiness is much subdued mellowed rounded down, purrs while comfortable on a plush cushion amongst an array of delights. warm pastry cream in shortcrust, gentlely baked in desert spice, warm raspberry sauce and maraschino, dried apricots, marmalade and bay leaf with just a hint of sooty stoves and a leftover matchstick. The palate is a textural delight, with the buzz of a fitful churning gristle, aromatic wood polish, dry spice, black pepper, soft earth and oolong. 89 pts
Whiskyrific RSS
- Millburn 36 yo 1969 / 2005 Douglas Laing #DL2152 50% vs Glenburgie 40 yo 1963 / 2003 Signatory #4751 56.4%
- Ben Nevis 23 yo 1996 / 2019 Single Malts of Scotland for the Nectar #536 51.3% vs A Speyside Distillery 32 yo 1989 / 2022 Thompson Bros 51.4%
- Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 61.1% vs Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 58.7%
- Talimburg 19 yo 1986 / 2005 The Whisky Fair #1485 45.9% vs Talisker 20 yo 1981 / 2002 62%
- Caol Ila 12 yo Bulloch Lade for Zenith 43% vs Caol Ila 30 yo 1979 / 2010 Berry Bros #4604/5 55.6%
- Clynelish 29 yo 1965 Whyte & Whyte 52.1%
- Brora 21 yo 1982 / 2003 Signatory #416 58.4% vs Clynelish 27 yo 1982 / 2009 Synch Eli Daily Dram 46%
- Dornoch 5 yo 2017 / 2023 #46 ‘Jasper Broers’ 57.9% vs Shizuoka ‘private cask’ 2017 / 2022 #2017-108 61%
- Clynelish 26 yo 1993 / 2020 Carn Mor #11215 52.7% vs Bowmore 17 yo 2004 /2021 SMWS 3.327 ‘Siren’s Song’ 57.1%
- Talisker 25 yo ‘Bottle TA25 3987’ 45.8% ~ bottle code L0296CM004 bottled 2020 vs Ledaig 11 yo 2008 / 2019 The Swan Song & 1BRD #700104 58.7%
whiskyrific 