Highland Park The Dark & The Light

I’m the first to admit I like the way Highland Park packages a lot of their releases. Unfortunately I hear the quality doesn’t often line up with the aesthetics. Nonetheless, Highland Park is a distillery I’ve been wanting to explore more deeply than just Valkyrie, so when I saw these available as samples I took the opportunity to try an ostensibly premium pair of expressions.

Highland Park The Dark, 17 Years Old, Island (Orkney) Single Malt, 52.9% ABV

Minutia: Matured in ex-Sherry casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn side by side with The Light.

Color: Tawny, 1.4.

Nose: Fruity, nutty, woody, light smoke/spice.

Taste: Sherry sour, smoke, big ramping heat.

Finish: Oak, cinnamon. Medium-long. Malt late.

This is ok, but costs more than it should. I did really like the spicy elements, it’s something new to me and while it’s not in line with my preferred profile, I did enjoy the unexpected change.

Score: 80

Musical Evocation: Ólafur Arnalds – “Ljósið”

Highland Park The Light, 17 Years Old, Island (Orkney) Single Malt, 52.9% ABV

Minutia: Matured in refill American Oak casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn side by side with The Dark.

Color: Amber, 0.7.

Nose: Very bright pear, lime. Floral/rose.

Taste: Salt/spice really build and drown out some light citrus and floral notes.

Finish: Vanilla/woody smoke, appley malt/dry-hopped cider.

I found this more enjoyable than The Dark. No pun intended, it is just so much brighter. In terms of how these compare, they are very appropriately named. If I’m not drinking whisky I’m drinking cider, and I prefer the dry variety. The finish was about the same as dry-hopped ciders I’ve had and combined with that peat quality felt almost like that’s what I was drinking. Also too expensive for what it offers, but still a nice dram.

Score: 81

Musical Evocation: Mamiffer – “Mára”