Swedish bottler Svenska Eldvatten is not giving us a distillery name this time, only the indication North Highland. This 18 years old malt from a first fill sherry cask is said to come from a distillery rarely bottled by independents. Make a guess and read on.
North Highland 18 yo 1995 (56,1%, Svenska Eldvatten 2013, first fill sherry butt #233123, 428 btl.)
North Highland 18 yo 1995 (56,1%, Svenska Eldvatten 2013, first fill sherry butt #233123, 428 btl.)Nose: toffee apples and rhubarb compote. Sweet and sour. Berries, oranges and vanilla. Some hay and soft minerals. Dried apricots too. A profile that’s very open and inviting but complex at the same time. After a while it gets more leathery with hints of eucalyptus oil, camphor and a hint of polished cedar which I find rather ‘Japanese’ if you know what I mean.
Mouth: punchy, oily, nicely sherried, with syrupy fruits, red apples, raisins and hints of candy. Some drier, grassier notes as well as cloves and grape pits. Muscovado sugar. A mintiness like on the nose.
Finish: medium long, fruity with some cocoa and toasted notes.
Could this be a sherried Glenmorangie? I don’t see why not. It surely fits their wood engineering skills, resulting in an interesting (American) sherry oak expression. Maybe a little woody but very flavoursome. Around € 100, still available.
Score: 87/100