Highland Park 17 Year Old 1991 Duncan Taylor Rare Auld

This Highland Park is a bottling by the Scottish Duncan Taylor, well known for its series Peerless, Rarest of the Rare, NC² and Octave, to mention but a few. This 17 Year Old HP was bottled in the Rare Auld series, meaning it is neither colored nor chill filtered (just like the NC² range, which concentrates on younger malts). This single cask was bottled at cask strength (sister cask #8088 was bottled at the same time at a slightly higher strength).

Ah, that is a good nose. Nice grassy notes, big on vanilla and honey, but also fruity on mandarin and marzipan. A touch of aniseed and toasted oak. Frangipane! Hints of perfume, but not to be confused with soapy! This is a wonderfully soft, yet complex nose.

The attack is both soft and tasty. Does not need water. Good spiciness, touch of smoke. The sweetness (oranges and almonds) gets all the attention. Only midpalate does it show a salty lining.

Liquorice and honey lead in this medium long finish.

Nice, nice, nice! My buddy Imanuel (an avid HP aficionado) would be very happy to have one of these. Thanks, Arnout, for the sample.

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