Heather (or heather honey) is one of the most common tasting notes in Highland Park whisky. The island of Orkney has no trees so the local peat has abundant heather at its base. It’s no surprise the distillery named an expression after it.
This new packaging is fairly modest and refreshing. No viking elements, just graphical things and a pink / purple colour scheme that doesn’t seem to aim for the classical whisky audience. There’s no age statement but we’ve heard Highland Park Heather ages for around 11 years.
Let’s see how this compares to the Cask Strength release I had a couple of months ago.
Highland Park Heather (63,6%, OB 2025, European & American sherry seasoned oak)
Nose: a slightly floral and heathery take on the distillery profile indeed. We’re getting baked apples and stewed rhubarb, hints or raisins, thyme honey and a bit of oak spice. Then mild peppery notes, ashes, a little bacon, hints of roasted marshmallows and lemon zest. Perhaps more peat than we expected. A hint of tobacco leaves in the background.
Mouth: a little boozy and hot, with the peppery notes and peat smoke in front row, followed by cinnamon and honey coated nuts. Mid-palate there’s a leafy / fleshy kind of savouriness that I’m not too fond of. Campfire notes, hints of brown sugar and slightly bitter / burnt herbs, like from the sherry casks. The fruitiness returns later in the form of caramelized apple.
Finish: long, with lingering sweetness (honey, bramble), heathery smoke, oak spice and some peppermint.
Despite the vegetal and meaty sherry note on the palate, this feels like a solid Highland Park, better than official bottlings of the past few years. More peaty than before too.