The latest single malt release from the Orkney-based distillery Highland Park is Cask Strength No.4.
This comes as the distillery prepares for its 225th anniversary in September.
Cask Strength No.4 sees Highland Park use a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-port casks for the first time in this series. This expression matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads and a small quantity of refill casks. These casks were all selected by Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker.
“For me, a cask strength whisky really celebrates an individual’s whisky journey, best enjoyed with your own personal level of water and ice added,” says Motion. “The peat from our home in Orkney gives the whisky a completely different character with aromatic heather smoke and unexpected contrasts in sweet and smoky flavors.”
Cask Strength No.4 opens with aromas of toasted coconut, driven by the ex-bourbon casks, along with crushed lemons and cedarwood, the company reports. There’s a hint of Turkish Delight in the aromatic peat smoke too, thanks to the influence of the ex-port casks. Flavors of pink grapefruit and rose water emerge on the palate, balanced by earthier suggestions of toasted oak and heather-rich peat, while the finish brings spices, licorice and floral peat smoke.
Neither diluted nor chill-filtered, bottled at 128.6 proof, Cask Strength No.4 is available globally from May in limited quantities. The suggested retail price is $100 per 750-ml. bottle.
