22/03/2024 Highland Park

Highland Park 12yo Viking Honour (40%, OB, L0484C L04 12/01, b. ca.2020): nose: there is something honest about these flagship bottlings. No pretence, no bullshit. It smells exactly as the distillery does, and that is sometimes all that one requires. So, in no particular order, we have tincture of iodine, cut peat still moist from the bog it left mere hours ago, a gentle smoke, and manure in the nearby field. If looking intently for it, one will spot a whisper of violet boiled sweets, but haters need not worry: it is hardly noticeable. What is a bit more surprising is the note of young grain spirit taken directly from the spirit safe. That is not meant in a derogatory way (it is pleasant); it is simply not something I associate with Highland Park. The second nose is more medicinal, with offerings of surgical alcohol poured on a dry corkboard. It also has dried yeast, and orchard-fruit slices desiccated beyond recognition. Gently-toasted barley rounds off the nose with a sugar glazing. Mouth: fresh and lively, though not overly so, it has a nice balance of smoke and violet boiled sweets, with a dash of tincture of iodine. I dare not call it unctuous, but it does have a velvety lick, beside the woodier tone of pencil cases. The second sip confirms. If it does the trick, chances are that the seasoned taster will find this a little pedestrian -- boring, even. Smoked dried apple slices come to the rescue, late in the game, and add a bit of adventure. Finish: more of the same? To a point, yes: gentle smoke, violet boiled sweets, but also a note of plasticine, now, and a clear farm-y side, with rich clay and midden. There is light-blue ink somewhere in this too. It warms up the mouth and oesophagus long after the flavours have dissipated. The second gulp mixes set honey with the plasticine, Honey Pops  mistakenly splashed with clay instead of milk. No reason to deviate from the score we gave it last time we had the equivalent. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, SL)