Highland Park 17 Years Old Ice Edition 53.9% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (88)

HP's new flubber. A limited edition of thirty thousand bottles, that sounds a little oxymoronic, doesn’t it. I won’t comment on the strange Valhalla-ish story, or on the hefty price, or on the bizarre flea-market-ready packaging… Because it’s all so ‘different’… And because some earlier extravagant ‘Viking’ bottlings by HP have been pretty much to my liking. So, let’s focus on the liquid if you don't mind … Colour: dark straw. Nose: we’re well in the same family and same style, this Ice is just a notch rounder, with a little more vanilla, perhaps. And certainly more menthol. Yes, there’s quite a lot of menthol and pinesap, but the whole remains pretty austere. With water: same differences, and perhaps a little more sour wood. More bubblegum as well after ten minutes. Mouth (neat): we’re oh-so very close to the 1997 by HL! Same grassy, cidery, herbal, bitter style, same Seville oranges, green wood, green pepper… And snuff. The Vikings again! With water: water reveals more sweet oaky flavours, around coconut oil, but that works very well here. Mint. Finish: quite long, a tad rounder, with some honeys and some barley water. Always a little coconut in the aftertaste, which is globally fruitier. Comments: all in all, this one’s rather rounder and sweeter, probably thanks to some more active wood, but the cores are the same. It’s a tie, same score.

Gal Granov (85)

Nose : Starts with malt and quite a bit of vanilla , hints of earthy peat and slight smoke (very hp_iceslight) that balances it well. A hint of mint, fresh cut grass and damp wood, white pepper, maybe some wet cardboard. Not much fruit, I’m afraid, maybe a hint of green apple peel, not very exotic for the ex-bourbon cask profile…

Palate : The palate is nicer and bolder with lovely earth, Pepper and bitter wood. Mint, grass, a bit chalky with the wet paper and damp wood. A touch of charred wood, slight wax and sour apple cider, in addition to more peat smoke.

Finish : Wood, a hint of peat, barley sugar and bitter wood. Distant smoke. Grass and ripe orange peel. Dusty.

Words of Whisky (87)

BOW (89)

Highland Park needs no introduction. Worldwide renowned for its high quality and standards. A Rolls Royce contained in a bottle waiting for a ride.

This is what our very good friend Gal Granov, connoisseur and whisky aficionado pur sang had to say about this fine new gem;
Nose: Starts with malt and quite a bit of vanilla, hints of earthy peat and slight smoke (very slight) that balances it well. A hint of mint, fresh cut grass and damp wood, white pepper, maybe some wet cardboard. Not much fruit, I’m afraid, maybe a hint of green apple peel, not very exotic for the ex-bourbon cask profile…
Palate: The palate is nicer and bolder with lovely earth, Pepper and bitter wood. Mint, grass, a bit chalky with the wet paper and damp wood. A touch of charred wood, slight wax and sour apple cider, in addition to more peat smoke.
Finish: Wood, a hint of peat, barley sugar and bitter wood. Distant smoke. Grass and ripe orange peel. Dusty.