Highland Park Ice & Fire

They seem to often make nice stuff, and the packaging sure is unique, but such extravagant packaging gives me pause to think the cost might be more about that then the liquid. Still, these particular expressions looked very nice to me and I was glad I was able to try them without having to pay for all the rigamarole.

Highland Park Ice, Island (Orkney) Single Malt, 53.9% ABV

Minutia: Matured for 17 years in 1st fill Bourbon casks and bottled in 2016 yielding 30,000 bottles. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn with Fire.

Color: Amber, 0.7.

Nose: Malty, citrus, honey, vanilla.

Taste: Tame, sweet, malty, spice.

Finish: More intense, malt, apple/pear. Long,

Ah, the non-smoky maltiness I’ve been looking for to help my tongue forget about peat for a moment. Packs a bit of a punch with flavor, but doesn’t hit as strong as you’d think given the ABV (in a good way).

Score: 85

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Highland Park Fire, Island (Orkney) Single Malt, 45.2% ABV

Minutia: Matured for 15 years in refill Port-seasoned casks and bottled in 2016 yielding 28,000 bottles. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn with Ice (the expression, not a contradiction to the neat serving).

Color: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry, 1.2.

Nose: Red wine, spice, saltwater taffy (unflavored), maybe a bit of banana.

Taste: Fruit, bit of smoke, chocolate, sweet burnt meat.

Finish: Chocolate with jelly filling, spice, oakish.

Man I really liked this one. I was not expecting more flavor from it relative to the Ice given the ABV disparity, but darnit this delived some specific nice flavors where the Ice gave more general ones. Nice work those port-seasoned casks did on this.

Score: 88