Highland Park 1989 29 Years Old (Gordon & MacPhail)
This is a sample I received a few months back, and haven’t gotten around to until now. And that’s only after someone on the Dutch whisky forum asked for an opinion on this Highland Park 1989 29 Years Old from Gordon & MacPhail. Much to my surprise, I then saw it has an average rating of over 92 points on Whiskybase, based on close to a hundred different ratings. That’s insane!
Highland Park 1989 29 Years Old (57%, Gordon & MacPhail, Batch 18/084)
Nose: Mature, rich and well-integrated, with hints of pipe tobacco, cinnamon, damp old wood, and decaying leafs. There’s a clear layer of fruits, such as cranberries and blackcurrants. Slightly floral, with just a touch of milk chocolate and soy sauce.
Taste: Yes, rather enticing. On the bitter side, with notes of espresso and cappuccino, accompanied by concentrated wood smoke. There’s room for walnut skins too, leather and cured meat, with hints of rose petals and cherries.
Finish: Dark chocolate, coffee and whispers of smoke. Long.
Score: 90
A success of a Highland Park, that really combines the best of wood maturation with the excellent Highland Park spirit. It seems I don’t find it as exceptional as the majority, but exceptional nonetheless.
Sample provided by Gordon & MacPhail
Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.
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