Highland Park 1959 21 Years Old 43% 1959

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (95)

Colour: gold amber.

Nose: oh yes, again one of these stunning old ‘dumpy’ Highland Parks. Very resinous, with lots of dried fruits (all sorts), beehive… It then gets very heathery (the marker is well here), with some bold caramel and praline. Whiffs of smoke and spices… Absolutely stunning.

Mouth: oh, it’s so balanced and so satisfying! Superbly coating, with lots of herbal tea again, dried fruits (all sorts again), caramel crème, and bunches of soft spices. Just brilliant. No less than 95 points.

Angus McRaild (95)

As we might say in Scotland, this one is 'well kent'… Colour: amber. Nose: another galaxy! A totally devastating and singular mix of ancient sherry, the deepest, darkest, rootiest, most organic and herbal Orcadian peat aroma, and then stunningly concentrated dark fruits, salinity, pecans and pickled walnuts, rancio and ancient balsamic. The thing you cannot get past is that it just hits you as one, entirely singular, utterly perfect and spellbinding profile. Impossible to spot the joins. Mouth: oh dear. Censored I'm afraid. We've immediately been forced to summon the anti-maltoporn brigade. But perhaps worth stating that it's precisely the profile of the nose on the palate, and once again the experience is of being immediately dominating by this incredible, singular profile. I'd only add that, with a meagre 43% ABV, this whisky is able to do more and deliver more by way of power, precision and enthralment than any number of cask strength drams. Finish: extremely long, stunningly herbal, darkly fruity and just hypnotically peaty. Comments: whisky that sort of breaks you brain. For me, 1950s Highland Park is up there with 1960s Bowmore, 1960s Laphroaig etc. One of the unique and great all time flavour experiences in whisky.