Review #241: Single Cask Nation Highland Park 13 Stones of Stennes

Island - 13 - NCF - NCA - $135 - 57.4%

Highland Park is an Island dram that is known as the "something for everybody" whisky.  A little peat, a little sherry, a little this and a little that. This dram was distilled in 2004 and matured in a 2nd Fill PX Sherry hogshead until 2018. Second fill PX?  This is probably not going to be as neutral as I think of when I think of Highland Park.  

Color - Tawny

Nose -  Stewed fruit and toffee pudding, malt, baking spice, figs, dried cherries, vanilla, spotted dick with treacle, lemonheads

Palate - Prunes, stewed dates, spice, apples, toffee, vanilla, malt

Finish - - Baking spice, nutmeg, Christmas cakes, vanilla, toffee, syrup 

Overall - 8 -  This was just fantstic.  This nose is just delightful, filled with fruit, baked goods and spice.  A lot of good things happening here.  The whole dram is sweet yet balanced.  It has all that you can want from an ex-PX, dried fruit, dessert, spice and all without being cloying.  I am really enjoying this, much better than expected.  I didn't get any peat on this, then again, I don't really get much on the standard 12 Highland Park.  This tastes more in line with how I picture Glendro than Highland Park.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16