Highland Park 2003 16 Year Old Sherry Cask TWE Exclusive

Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

• Nose

  Singed caramel, worn leather and malt loaf to start. Rich, dark fruity notes build, with fruitcake and bittersweet chocolate joined by blackcurrants and dried cherries. A touch of aniseed and pine spiciness develops.

• Palate

  Intense, as the colour suggests, with brown sugar sweetness and dark and smoky barrel char tussling at first. It quickly calms, to aromatic oak, dark caramel and rich dried fruit. The fruit cake and malt loaf notes from the nose take centre stage, with cola sweetness balanced by dry spice.

• Finish

  Caramel, toffee, spiced fruit loaf, stewed raisins, baked apples – long, lingering, spicy and rich.

• Comment

  A well-integrated and characterful sherry bomb, with layers of sweet and savoury depth.