Highland Park Highland Park 25 Year Old NV 750ml

Smells smoky, along with nuances of sea salt, flowers, cookie batter and light toffee. Entry is oily, oaky and richly salt-and-peppery; the midpalate is where all the components merge into a crescendo of elegant and potent maritime single malt flavors.

No, it isn’t naughty of me to have two whiskies from the same distillery in my top ten. Not when the whiskey is this good and might, in truth, be #1 or #2 on some people’s lists. Owns all the multilayered grandeur of HP 18, but with more oak presence and maturity. It’s also 5% higher in alcohol than the 18, which lends a marginally deeper structure and core flavors. Magical.

While the peerless HP 18 will always be my favored Highland Park as well as my all-time favorite spirit, this biscuity, fathomless bottling at a higher proof is close in ethereal quality. Tasted numerous times over the last few years, I marvel at the extended, elegant aftertaste. It also scored 100 points at this year's Ultimate Spirits Challenge, a first at USC in four years.

While the peerless HP 18 will always be my favored Highland Park as well as my all-time favorite spirit. this biscuity, fathomless bottling at a higher proof is close in ethereal quality. Tasted numerous times over the last few years, I marvel at the extended, elegant aftertaste. It also scored 100 points at this year's Ultimate Spirits Challenge, a first at USC in four years.