Number two in our (short) list of reviews of the recent 30th Anniversary bottlings from Signatory Vintage. A 30 years old Highland Park distilled in 1988 and matured in a hogshead.
Highland Park 30 yo 1988 (49,7%, Signatory Vintage ’30th anniversary’ 2018, hogshead #755, 220 btl.)
Highland Park 30 yo 1988 (49,7%, Signatory Vintage ’30th anniversary’ 2018, hogshead #755, 220 btl.)Nose: quite fruity (ripe apples, grapefruit, lime) with heathery notes and the typical coastal side. Distinct floral notes too, mixing with hints of beeswax. Just a whiff of earthy peat. Highly polished and inviting.
Mouth: a similar bright fruitiness, now clearly more tropical (tangerine, passion fruits, lime, pink grapefruit). Still a waxy feeling, alongside mint and camphor. Leafy touches. Very subtle hints of salted capers and herbal notes. Great mix of drier and rounder notes.
Finish: long, maltier, with grapefruit, hints of dried ginger and mineral earthy notes.
Really beautiful Highland Park, slightly feminine in a way and very elegant. Just short of € 500 and maybe too expensive for what it delivers but an outstanding example of this profile nonetheless.
Score: 92/100