Highland Park St. Magnus 12 Year Old

This 12 Year Old Saint Magnus, the second release of the Earl Magnus trilogy, is the only one still available from the HP website (but then do not ship outside the UK), because of the large number of bottles. The other two, the 15 Year Old Earl Magnus on 5.976 bottles and the 18 Year Old Earl Haakon on 3.300 bottles, are all long gone. They fetch outrageous prices at auctions. In this vatting, primarily Spanish oak was used, of which 20% first fill.

After the initial alcohol burn, the nose offers new leather, dried citrus, heather, apples in caramel, honey and pepper. But the whole is rather sharp and young. After a while, I get some earthiness and grilled pig, covered in honey and a slight smokiness.

The palate starts rather dry, but very spicy, on cinnamon and ginger. Again apples in caramel and dried oranges. Liquorice, woodsmoke and a handful of nuts. A lot of sherry, even turning somewhat bitter.

The finish is very long, drying and (too) bitter towards the end.

This is an interesting Highland Park, but not earth shattering. The price is exactly that, if you consider the fact that this is a 12 year old whisky, after all. The unique packaging does not change that fact.

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