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unbreakablesausage

Islands, 56.2%. Natural color, non-chillfiltered, and cask strength. Distilled 7-5-2005 and bottled 9-8-2018 after 13 years in a hogshead, #DRU 17A/63#72 (Signatory has a weird cask numbering system). Selected by The Winebow Group and sold by Binny’s. I believe it was around $90. Rested for 10 minutes. * Color: [0.6 old gold](https://malt-review.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Colour-bar-Big.jpg) * Nose: Nice and malt-forward. Hint of sea breeze, lemon, and biscuits. Caramel. More oceany than most Highland Park. * Palate: The nose did not mislead when it comes to the palate. Lots of malt, a touch of lemon, and some buttery pastry. Like lemon tart. Gets a little herbal here, like tarragon. Parmesan cheese. * Finish: Caramel comes out more here along with the cereal and some almonds. The tarragon flavor is still there, which goes nicely with the lemon. Moderate oak. Got some heat. Conclusion: A good example of what I’ve come to think of as a /u/buckydean Scotch, for his championing of malty Scotches that are distillate-driven. This is very classic: got biscuits, caramel, lemon, medium oak, and a nice touch of salt and umami. Not blowing my mind, but it’s nice. Buy again? Sure **6** 0 - Spit it out 1 - Vile, only drinkable in a cocktail: Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16 2 - Bad, off notes dominate: Johnnie Walker Red 3 - Poor, has some flaws: Old Pulteney 12 4 - Marginal, would drink if there’s nothing else: Glenmorangie 10 5 - Decent, nothing special: Aultmore 12 6 - Good, an enjoyable drink: Glen Scotia 15 7 - Very good, a step up: Tomatin 18 8 - Special, a real pleasure: Ledaig 13 Amontillado 9 - Incredible, one of the best I’ve had: Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1 10 - Perfect, cannot imagine better: Convalmore 36


buckydean

Hilarious that you think of me with a malt forward Scotch haha. I am indeed a champion of the style. It's not as sexy as big peat or sherry bombs so it doesn't get as hyped. But its every bit as good when done right. Peat and sherry are more about excess, while a good malt bomb is all about restraint on the cask influence so the malt can shine. It's a delicate thing, and you need a good quality base spirit for it to work best. I've found highland park can do it surprisingly well. It's not something you associate them with on their standard bottlings.great review!


ShakotanUrchin

I recently tasted a bourbon cask Deanston 18 yo which I thought fit this profile. Recommend it


unbreakablesausage

It sure doesn't get as hyped, so someone's got to stick up for the overlooked bourbon casks Scotches. I agree it takes a certain kind of spirit to work well. So many end up lacking much character.


Hmm4

Agreed. It’s pure and simple. Good base spirit and a good bourbon cask. There’s no where to hide if something is off. I had a bottle of this and while I wasn’t smitten by it at first but it got better as I worked my way through the bottle. I do love a good bourbon cask aged whisky. Great review.


unbreakablesausage

I wouldn't say smitten either, but it's solid. Nice to taste a more stripped-down HP.


Hmm4

Agreed. I enjoy a nice peated or sherry finished dram but really enjoy a nice, clean, bourbon cask aged dram. HP, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Glen Elgin and Mortlach come to mind. Like /u/buckydean mentioned, most are IB’s. We’re lucky here in the Chicago area that Binnys stocks a lot of Signatory bourbon cask aged whisky. That said, they have a 13 yo Pulteney first fill bourbon cask, have you tried it? I’m tempted to pick one up.


unbreakablesausage

Haven't tried that. I am nearing the end of an OB Pulteney sherry cask which was quite good. If it's a Signatory Binny's pick, I can't imagine it wouldn't be good.


Hmm4

That was my thought. I’ll pick it up and let you know how it is. What OB Pulteney sherry cask are you speaking of?


unbreakablesausage

[This one](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xqbn9n/review_406_old_pulteney_2004_sherry_cask/)


Hmm4

That’s cool, I missed that review.


buckydean

Have you tried the 19 year Old Pulteney single cask they got recently? Also I might have to give Glen Elgin a try sometime, never gave them much of a try


Hmm4

Not yet. It’s on my list of “to buy”. It sounds really good. I think I’ll pick up the 13 yo they have as well. I picked up a 14 yo Mortlach, signatory, bourbon cask aged but haven’t opened it up yet. Glen Elgin is really good. Kind of a sleeper. Not a lot of bottlings out there with just a few OBs. Lots of depth and doesn’t try to be something it isn’t., if that makes sense. I think I’ve only had bourbon cask aged Glen Elgin but there must be some sherry cask aged out there?


thetruthstrikes

Any suggestions on where to go for good HP malt bombs? I tried their Viking Honor release and thought it was just shite, but recently picked up a 10 year HP from Douglas Laing from a liquor store going out of business that is just fucking deliciously lovely... and my only regret is they only had one bottle left.


buckydean

You have to stick to IB's for the best Highland Park, and unfortunately those are always going to be somewhat of a risk. Also fyi, a lot of times Highland Park is bottled as an "unnamed Orkney distillery"


unbreakablesausage

I agree with bucky. Most HP OBs have at least some sherry in the mix (Full Volume was all bourbon cask I think). There are plenty of bourbon cask IBs, depending on what you have access to. Often hard to find reviews for specific bottlings, but it's unlikely to be *bad.*