Highland Park Vintage 1994 review – distilled 1994, bottled 2010

Highland Park 1994 Vintage is 16 year old whisky matured in first-fill European (Spanish) oak sherry cask. Not at all like their Vintage 2001, which got a very good score from me. The 2001 version had a smoky palate because of the high proportion of first-fill American oak casks used in the maturation.

Highland Park 1994 has potential but it is a bit too light. There are all the good HP ingredients like spices, floral notes and toffee, but they come in a too delicate package.

A whisky BEFORE SUNSET

Unlike the 2001 Vintage version, this one would’ve needed a bigger alcohol per volume level.HP’94 is a light drama, something you might enjoy Before Sunset. Why not Before Sunrise, either way it’s like a Richard Linklater movie.

Nose: Salty and delicate sea breeze starts the show. Earthly and floral with spices.

Taste: Spicy with sour notes like berries. Toffee and sugars hit you late but everything happens in the most delicate way.

Finish: Light finish. Sour lingonberry kind of notes, very much berries.

Balance: Nice dram but lacks character a bit. There are great Highland Park kinda notes but they are all only a hue from the usual HP stuff.