Highland Park 30 yo 1981 / 2011 Whisky Agency 52.2%

I believe the 80s were more austere and often earthier than the previous 2 decades at Highland Park. The peat is here but it is a silver blade edged in salt, sheathed in grey smoke, and evidently used to cut white stonefruit on a bed of moss and damp mulch. The phenols are better described as earthy and damp, think fields of dirty clay and chalk soils, wet logs and sprouting mushrooms, yet it is paradoxically clean, opposite of farmy. Also old and brittle candle wax, dried out brush, bit of diesel, small coal fires and fruity-green herbs. Lemon thyme maybe. Yes, lemon rind and everything drenched in saline. Highland Park would remain in this ballpark through the 80s I think. Love this protean whisky. 91 pts