Highland Park 12 Year Old

VA ABC- $62.99

Total Wine - $56.99

Class VI - $51.90

ABV - 40%

AGE - 12 years

From the Highland Park website:  Matured predominantly in European and American sherry seasoned oak casks, this iconic 12 Year Old single malt whisky is spicy and well-rounded, packed with the flavors of sun-kissed Seville oranges and rich fruitcake spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; you’ll find molten heather honey in this whisky’s waves of heathery peat smoke. Why not try it with a handful of wasabi peas on the side or alongside a sizzling, pan-fried rib-eye steak or with smoked salmon and sour cream. Something magic happens here and the result is the wild harmony of flavors found in this whisky.

Located on the Orkney Islands in Scotland, Highland Park distillery was founded by Magnus Eunson, a butcher and church officer by day and illicit distiller and whisky smuggler by night1. (my kinda guy!).  

The distillery is currently owned by Edrington, a well-established company in the spirits industry. Edrington also owns other renowned brands such as The Macallan, The Glenrothes, and The Famous Grouse1.  We reviewed the delicious Macallan in early April (which you can read on the Whiskey and Politics DMV Chapter Facebook page.)

In the good ol’ days I traveled to Manchester, England a lot.  Next to the hotel we stayed at was the storied, ‘Briton’s Protection Whisky and Ale Pub’.  They seem to be having some minor troubles and their website is down, but you can find their FaceBook page here.  I befriended the pub manager and he introduced me to Highland Park.  I’ve been a fan ever since.  The basic 12-yr-old is pretty amazing and it just gets better from there.  Highland Park is commonly found in the duty free stores so you can bring an unusual expression home when you visit the UK, or you can find some interesting bottles here in the US.  Give it a shot.  जयकारा!