Highland Queen Majesty 16 Year Old

The Highland Queen Scotch Whisky Company was founded in 1893 by Roderick Mcdonald. He even owned the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain to provide for his blends’ malt. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, crowned in 1567, is featured on the label of this rather unknown brand. Today, they have three blends (3yo, 8yo and 12yo) and 6 single malts (would that be Glenmorangie, then? I doubt it). I will try the Highland Malt 16 Year Old.

The nose is very robust with quite a bit of sweet fruit and loads of sherry influence. Spices, grapefruit, nuts and dried pineapple. A bit of grasses. Apricots. Milk chocolade. Maple syrup. Very pleasant, in fact.

The attack if powerful and spicy with sweet fruits. It contains a nice whiff of smoke, really. Somewhat unexpected, I must admit. Toffee and sugared breakfast cereals. Syrup, again.

Fairly long and sweet finish, in which a bit of peat rears its head again.

Surprise! This is quite good. But seems more like Tullibardine than Glenmorangie, if you ask me. But I am absolutely not sure, of course. I am, however, pleasantly surprised!