Highland Park 1995 18 years Old Particular 48.4%

Distilled November 1995, bottled December 2013, from a refill hogshead.

Nose: Fruity, lemon, apple and peach, with an overlaying smokiness. With water the smoke is emphasised and the fresh fruit gives way to lemon and lemon peel.

Palate: Digestives with brown goat’s cheese. Smoke and dry oak. With water added I find dry honey, a bonfire-like smokiness and “Non-Stop” (a Norwegian sweet, similar to M&M’s, but with dark chocolate) on the finish.

Comments: Also a perfectly decent Highland Park, but of a completely different character than the 17 year old from the Old Malt Cask range. This is a little bit better, if only marginally.

Tasted at Oslo Whsikyfestival 2014.

Highland Park 17 years Old Malt Cask 50%

Distilled September 1996, bottled September 2013, from a refill hogshead, DL ref 9903.

IMG_3413Nose: Smoke, honey and heather. With water it develops a fresher character, of green apples and grass.

Palate: Honey! Lightly smoked. Water opens for malt, but there is still a lot of honey.

Comments: A perfectly decent Highland Park.

Tasted at Oslo Whiskyfestival 2014.

Strathclyde 24 years Cadenhead 46%

Nose: Nail varnish remover, grain, dried oranges, orange peel. Water adds a smoky note, more grain and oaky perfume.

Palate: Orange peel, oak and grain. With water I get Christmas cake and more bitterness, but the grainy character is still prominent.

Comments: Quite all right. Nice nose, ok taste. The grain character is almost malty, which is interesting seeing as this spirit is made from unmalted grain.

Tasted at Oslo Whiskyfestival 2014.