Highland Park 12 yo Ferraretto Import ~ circa 1979 ‘Gradi 43% Idrati 75 cl’ vs Highland park 8yo Gordon & Macphail 100 proof

Highland Park 12 yo Ferraretto Import ~ circa 1979 ‘Gradi 43% Idrati 75 cl’

An old glory. Subtle mix of discrete but well executed sherry and peat elements. Peat smoke. Coal ,crumbly dry earth. Cold bacon fat, old wood, damp ropes, oxidised fruit and some old molasses. Yes tends towards a subtlety but great depth for those who look for it. Sweet  licorice, minty cough syrup and some spilled berry juice going sticky and starting to turn in the sun. 88 pts

Highland park 8 yo Gordon & Macphail 100 proof

This particular one seems a little more simple than other 100 proofs, but my god such abundance of direct power. It feels like Highland Park has succeeded in distilling the emotion of slamming a nine inch nail square on its head with the full swing of a sledgehammer. A visceral and tarry peat, muscular, thrice salted and smoked. Sea-washed flints and ancient resins and waxes. Wet hemp rope, powdered medicine satchets,  lit coals, dried pomelo rind, butter mints, light camphor and dry clay brings it all to a biting chard-like finale. Emotive. 92 pts