A very nice Highland Park from GM, but with this malt it is important that you take your time! Let my tip stand 10-15 minutes before tasting.

A well-balanced combination of sherry and smoke, as we know and love HP, without a note of sulfur! If you see the rising prices in January 2021, then this HP is almost cheap for its age :-)

Slàinte

Not really bad and not that overpriced for a 16 HP SC from the FF sherry barrel. However, the HP character can only be recognized with a lot of goodwill. A very dirty sherry barrel with a slight sulfur note. The sherry comes across as sweet and very caramel, but covers everything else. In particular, the fine, spicy smoke note in the finish, which is characteristic of HP, almost completely disappears under the dirt. The alcohol is also not optimally integrated. All of this is not really bad and some will like it, but it is more reminiscent of a dirty Springbank or Benromach than an HP.

Edit: That's amazing: A few weeks after opening the whisky has visibly changed for the better: The sulfur note has almost completely disappeared and the delicate smoke is now clearly visible. The sherry also looks much cleaner this way. I have to revise my rating upwards.

The nose starts off unexpectedly dirty with fermented fruits, damp tobacco, a trace of polish and smoke.

The tobacco-fruit composition unfolds very full and intense in the mouth. The alcohol is perfectly integrated.

In the finish there is an aromatic oak note and minimal ash.
Length: 5/10

Overall great, mature HP, which was still not completely killed by the sherry.

Note 1-