Captain Log, Day 5: After I managed to scrape off 20 points yesterday for correct region, I hope to build upon it and maybe even have a successful day with a high score. This dram felt like a high proof young dram, but the region and distillery alluded me. I was torn between three optoins: a SMWS bottling from a Speyside distillery, a young Bladnoch from The whisky broker or maybe some weird Islands bottling (Arran or HP). Eventually I went for the Lowlands route. Not sure if it was the smart decision.

Update: Ugh 😦 I was so far off the mark and even high ABV guess was off and so, another zero pointer. I just can’t stop shaking my head at this weird dram. A 22 yo Highland Park that was distilled in 1992 and bottled December 2014 – it didn’t feel like a Highland park at all nor a sherry cask.

Cadenhead Highland Park 22 Year Old Sherry Cask (59.6%, 234 bottles, ~€173)

Nose: Freshly cut grass, sweet honey with sour edge, nutty, white pepper, limestone and chalk. with time: flowers and perfume, red fruit, stronger limestone/chalk. With water: fruitier, a lot of citrus and a tad more perfume.

Palate: Sweet zesty honey, sweet grapefruits, thick, nuts, pepper but it hides behind the sweetness. With water, lots of malt, bitter grapefruits, spicier, still zesty

Finish: Fruit sweetness, honey, weak limestone. with water, longer finish with lingering spice and bitterness.

Thoughts: An Excellent palate is marred by a nose that is overloaded with chalk and limestone. With a relaxed nose it could be one cracking whisky.