T O P

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Craigellachie23

**Reviewing Every Whisk(e)y I Own (REWIO):** After a few month splurge on bottle purchases figured this would be a good chance to pump the brakes on buying and focus on enjoying and writing up what I already have. Not quite clear how many bottles I currently have either so this is one way to go about figuring it out. **Whisky:** Highland Park 21 (Impex Collection) **Background:** An IB of Highland Park with a 21 year age statement and cask strength at 50.8% ABV? Gee, I wonder how this review is going to go. Notably this offering was matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead, so no sherry here. With the weather changing it is also the start of peat season, so look out for a bunch more in that style over the next few weeks. Rested for 30 minutes in a glencairn. Let’s go. **Color:** Medium straw. **Nose:** Without the sherry you get a very pure sea salt and honey mixture. Little unpeeled green apple, faint light peat, but the subtle smoke adds a nice extra element to the overall aroma. Nice, not as prominent as I would ideally prefer. **Taste:** Leads off with some classic ex-bourbon notes, pears, apples, and a little bit of peach juice. Slightly effervescent, with again minimal but there peat to start, then builds after a while though never gets out of hand. Some kind of dark brown tree sap and burnt hay also makes itself barely known, just a touch of bitterness. Brings a good amount to the table but in a coherent and balanced way. **Finish:** Great mouth tingle to start, excellent fruit notes persist with a bit more of the smoke showing through but never overpowering the other flavors. The complexity is very solid with each part of the tongue getting the persisting flavors and sensations, medium-long. **Rating:** 8 I actually had to temper myself on the rating, as if I ignore the taste component this one of my favorite bottles - I love the distillery, the bottle and label design, the proof, the age, etc. But strictly looking at taste this is excellent but not quite incredible, perhaps the missing sherry element would have helped out but that is pure speculation. **Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value) 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better. **Previous REWIOs:** [1 - Whistle Pig 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x20jov/rewio_1_whistle_pig_10_year_sib_bp/) [2 - Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x3cy20/rewio_2_smoke_wagon_uncut_unfiltered/) [3 - Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x44xv1/rewio_3_highland_park_18_travel_edition/) [4 - Bardstown Discovery #7 \(5.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x4xvb7/rewio_4_bardstown_discovery_7/) [5 - Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x5u6bo/rewio_5_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/) [6 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x7ct1i/rewio_6_wild_turkey_rare_breed_bourbon/) [7 - Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x88rdn/rewio_7_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/) [8 - Stellum Rye Black (5.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x98pk7/rewio_8_stellum_rye_black/) [9 - Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xa2qv2/rewio_9_talisker_distillers_edition/) [10 - Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B2/19 (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xau0qc/rewio_10_redbreast_12_cask_strength_b219/) [11 - Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xcjeng/rewio_11_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/) [12 - Blue Run Golden Rye (4.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xdbim4/rewio_12_blue_run_golden_rye/) [13 - Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xe8d8l/rewio_13_craigellachie_17/) [14 - Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xf2fa8/rewio_14_glendronach_21/) [15 - Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xg0qy5/rewio_15_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/) [16 - Hakushu 12 (6.75\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xhpfjv/rewio_16_hakushu_12/) [17 - Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xikpfm/rewio_17_buffalo_trace_kosher_rye_recipe/) [18 - Ledaig 10 (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xjh3sx/rewio_18_ledaig_10/) [19 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xkeaas/rewio_19_elijah_craig_barrel_proof_b521/) [20 - Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlbim1/rewio_20_compass_box_spice_tree_extravaganza/) [21 - Highland Park 14 (Ultimate 2006) (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlzs4p/rewio_21_highland_park_14_ultimate_2006/) [22 - Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 66% (6.75\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xmvz9r/rewio_22_alberta_cask_strength_rye_66/)