I have a sample of the new Highland Park 40 year old. My review is below, which will appear in the upcoming issue of Malt Advocate magazine.
93 Highland Park, 40 year old, 48.3%, $1,900
Antique copper color, with some streaks of gold. A complex array of dried fruit on the nose, peppered with dried spice, orange marmalade, dark chocolate and wood shavings. On the palate, the immediate impact is once again is marmalade, followed briefly by bramble before drier notes of dark chocolate, wood shavings, anise and subtle smoke emerge. Dry and spicy on the finish, but never austere. A delicious, contemplative 40 year old Highland Park that has aged gracefully.
This is a permanent addition to the range. Out of curiosity, I tasted it next to the other great Highland Parks (the 30 year old and several very good single cask bottlings over 30 years old). This whisky is in the same league as the others. It’s only down side is that it’s a lot more expensive than the others.
At that price I would have kept it sealed and stored the bottle for value appriciation.
Hi John,
Surely you remember the Highland Park 1958, released about ten years ago (gasp, where did the years go?), also around 40 years old, and with a $2000 price tag. So at least one thing has beaten back inflation, something you can think about when you fill up your boat
Slainte.
Louis
Hi John,
I’ll declare my interest – you know I’m working with Highland Park!
You mention that the 40yo is expensive compared to the 30yo. In absolute terms that is, of course, a fair point.
However, having looked at the price of other proprietary 40yo single malts, I would suggest Highland Park 40 year old is priced very competitively indeed. The whiskies I researched ranged in price from £1000 to £2000.
The Highland Park comes in well below the going rate – especially if you are fortunate enough to buy it at travel retail for only £675!
Cheers.
M