Highland Park 21 yo 1986 / 2007 Duncan Taylor #2252 55.7%

I love 80s and 90s Highland Park for its uncanny weave of salinity, fruit, peat, minerals and luminescence, accomplished with characteristic verve, that blends together all I love in a good malt. It does mean a degree of subtlety though, which I feel has made it less accessible and even today something of an advanced study rather than a crowd pleaser. This one is unsurprisingly excellent. Shining and luminous with clarity, singing of saltwater, downwind peatsmoke, white clay, buttery wood, yellow honey over yellow orchard fruit, clear as day. Hints of moist earthy loam trampled underfoot and uncovered wet wood. Malt, lemon sherbet and warm stones. Easier to reach for on any given day than almost anything else. 91 pts