Highland Park 40-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

[Though not referring to the most recent bottling, this review will give you an accurate accounting of the quality to expect from this remarkable dram.] Appearance: Deep molten bronze with gold highlights. When the glass is leaned at a forty degree angle, and turned, the most exquisite lines emerge. Tiny beads form a tracery of diadems. This technique helps to reveal the viscosity of the whisky, which should lend itself to an oily, velvety-smooth mouth feel. Nose: All of the quintessential Highland Park notes from the 25-Year-Old and the 30-Year-Old are present. One can detect familiar ‘honeycomb heather,’ for example, and gentle peaty notes, along with a kiss of the sea. However, these characteristics have been refined by another long stretch of time in the casks, as the angels took their share, leaving behind a veritable treasure. Palate: A wonderful mixture of leather, oak, and old books greet the tongue. It’s like stepping into a private library filled with ancient leather-bound tomes, along with leather-backed chairs, and oak paneling everywhere. Remarkable. This impression illustrates how one’s sense of taste and smell can work in tandem to paint such a vivid picture. In your glass, you can taste what an old library smells like. A very strong impression of place. And then there comes a wave of peat and smoke, which does not overpower, but rather enhances one’s first impression of leather, wood, and books. Finish: I haven’t whetted my tongue for a couple of minutes, and yet I’m still getting a bit of honey and smoke, along with papaya. After another sip, to refresh my palate, it becomes obvious that this finish just keeps going and going and going. Score – 95. (thewhiskeywash.com, Sept. 22, 2016)