Highland Park Earl Magnus Edition One 15 Year Old

This was the first one in that rather popular Earl Magnus trilogy, hyped to no end with a pricetag from hell. The successor, the 12 Year Old Saint Magnus, I found to be rather ordinary. Hopefully this first one does better. I have not yet been able to secure a sample of the third edition, Earl Haakon. It is amazing what samples one comes across when clearing out some cabinets, he?

I like this nose from the very first whiff. Wonderful HP with loads of heather, mint, hay and grass, flints, buttercups, white fruit and citrus. Coconut, too. Bit of camphor. Rubber hose (not to be confused with sulpher, please!). Nice smokiness, without putting to much stress on it. Adding water makes it very clean and brings out more smoke. And more rubber, too. This is good.

It is very creamy and sweet on the palate with loads of citrus. Grapefruit, but also apples. The smokiness is bigger now. Very tight and does not need any water, while it carries it gracefully. Well seasoned. Good stuff, indeed.

The finish is long, good and becomes pretty zesty. Bittersweet until the end.

Okay, I have to admit it: this one was very much hyped, but it lives up to the challenge. Around 400 EUR you say? Ah, there is always a catch.

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