Review

Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
44% ABV/88 Proof
$125
Available in select specialty retailers

What the Distillery Says:
Matured for the majority of its life in bespoke Oloroso Matusalem sherry butts and bottled at 44% alcohol by volume, the body and character of this extraordinary expression is the perfect complement to a fine cigar. The sherry cask proportion is 70
percent and 30 percent American white oak.

Color: Deep amber gold in colour with glittering highlights.
Nose: Aromas of orange marmalade, honey and citrus fruits abound in sensual profusion.
Taste: The long years spent in the finest Oloroso sherry wood deliver intense notes of crushed almonds, cinnamon and spice to complete the nose of this remarkable expression.
Finish: On the palate creamy vanilla, toffee and sweet pineapples open, followed by rich mango, crushed pear and kiwi fruits. An aftertaste of unsurpassed elegance.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry, orange, and a consistent savory note that I find in a lot of Dalmore.
Palate: Sweet, nutty, and a little spicy on the back end of the palate.
Finish: That nuttiness from the palate really lingers. Vanilla and spicy oak through end of a long slow finish. I don’t really get any of the fruit but still a very nice finish.
Comments: Apparently, ever since the refresh of the Dalmore portfolio Richard Paterson keeps getting questions about what happened to the old Cigar Malt. Well, this isn’t it but it is very nice. It’s not quite Dalmore at the top of it’s game like The MacKenzie but it’s still a stand out dram. I’ll have to take some more time with this and pair it up with a few cigars.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us a sample for review.

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Highland Park 25 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 25 Years
48.1% ABV/96.2 Proof
$250 to $350
Available at select retailers

What the Distillery Says:
First released in 1998, Highland Park 25 Years Old is a phenomenal whisky; it has a rich amber glow and an unmistakable taste of smokiness and heather honey with, as you would expect from Highland Park, a hint of peat.

The remarkable complexity of this whisky is due in part to the fact that half of it is matured in first fill Sherry casks. These are very expensive and generally used sparingly in the industry. However, they impart maximum flavour; Highland Park 25 Year Old proves it.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Natural colour; dark red golden, clear and bright
What Richard Says:
Nose: Lots of sherry, heather, cherries, and oak. It’s fruitier than I would’ve thought.
Palate: Rich, heavy on sherry and oak but not “too oaky” by any means. Honey and nice peatiness.
Finish: Very smooth and dry with a little lemon zest.
Comments: Highland Park just ages really well. The only thing I’ve had from the distillery better than this is the 30 year old. Price is really the only thing that keeps me from telling you to run right out and buy a bottle. Another knockout dram from Highland Park.
Rating: Must Try

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Highland Park 18 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 18 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$80 to $100
Widely available

What the Distillery Says:
First released in 1997, Highland Park immediately found favour with whisky writers and enthusiasts all over the world. It is a perfectly balanced single malt with a toffee sweetness and a mouthwateringly smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Natural colour; burnished gold, clear and bright
Nose:Rich, mature oak; top note of aromatic smoke
Palate:Rich, full flavour; honey and peat
Finish:Soft, round and long

The nose of Highland Park 18 Year Old displays characteristic toffee sweetness and an almond nuttiness reminiscent of marzipan. The finish is a prolonged, full, smokey aftertaste.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dark fruit, sherry, polished oak, heather, buttery sweetness.
Palate: Smokey, rich, kind of oily, sweet and salty playing together, a little nutty.
Finish: Warm, peaty, a little spicy, and hotter than I expected.
Comments: A true classic. This is an amazingly complex whisky. It changes every time I try another dram. To me, this is the best sub-$100 18 Year Old single malt available. I almost don’t want to say that you must buy it because I don’t want to run low.
Rating: Must Buy

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Highland Park 16 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky, The Collector's Cabinet /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 16 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$100
Collectible (Previously Travel Retail Exclusive)

What the Distillery Says:
This variant of Highland Park was created exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in October 2005, it was withdrawn in April 2010. Highland Park 16 Year Old is gloriously smooth, sweet single malt with an island-infused flavour and a rich smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Natural colour, clear and bright
Nose:Sherried smoke peat, spicy
Palate:Rich, full flavour, smokey heather honey
Finish:Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry

Highland Park 16 Year Old has an emphatic honeyed sweetness on the nose with notes of citrus fruits and sea spray. On the palate this whisky tingles the front of the tongue then immediately makes the mouth water, leaving a rich smokey sensation.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much more earthy and sherried than the 1994. Citrus and vanilla.
Palate: Not nearly as sweet as the 1994. Smokey and herbal/vegetal come to mind. A little bitter.
Finish: Dry. Again very little in common with the 1994.
Comments: This fella was discontinued in 2010 and replaced by the 1994 vintage as part of the duty free/travel retail range. I personally think it’s a very big improvement. There’s nothing about this that makes me want to drop the $100+ to scrounge up a bottle.
Rating: Average

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Highland Park 1994

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Vintage 1994
40% ABV/80 Proof
$75
Travel Retail Exclusive

What the Distillery Says:
This variant of Highland Park is exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in April 2010 having been distilled in 1994.

Midway through the decade the world was gaining confidence after the early 1990s recession. Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa. France and England were joined physically as the Channel Tunnel welcomed its first passengers. The Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer and Schindler’s List picked up seven Academy Awards.

George Foreman was still boxing and became the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Brazil won the FIFA World Cup Final. Michael Schumacher won his first Formula One world title in the same season that the mercurial Ayrton Senna lost his life the day after Roland Ratzenberger died in practice. British teen diving sensation Tom Daly was born.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Rich, warm amber hue.
Nose:Warm caramel to the fore coupled with hints of almonds. Dark fruit, including cherries and figs, are slowly revealed as the whisky opens up.
Palate:Caramel and soft smoky notes intertwine with cinnamon and rich dried fruits. Beautifully mature.
Finish:Lingering warming smoky finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich and welcoming like fresh baked monkey bread. A lot of cherry.
Palate: Much sweeter than anticipated. Rich and smokey.
Finish: Slow…very slow. The oak and smoke (great name for a whiskey/cigar bar) dance well together.
Comments: Oh this is quite nice. It’s not a classic like the 18 Year but well worth a sip if you get the chance.
Rating: Must Try

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