Highland Park and Glenrothes Scotch $39.99 each at D&M in California – Scotch Whisky News
Highland Park 8 Year Old
The MacPhail Collection, Single Malt Scotch Whisky $39.99
Green straw color with an amazing nose of smoke, sea salt, coconut and chocolate. On the palate the slightly oily texture carries flavors of dry smoke and firm malt. It has that tell tale kiss of the sea that makes you think of Highland Park and just a lick of petrol to the finish. A big shouldered and complex whisky.
About the Distillery:
Situated on a hillside near Kirkwall the capital of Orkney, Highland Park is the northernmost distillery in the world, a distinction it holds by a clear half mile over the nearby Scapa Distillery.
The distillery gets its name because its location, in the High Parks overlooking the Northern Isles. It was the perfect hideaway for its founder Magnus Eunson to begin distilling whisky illegally in 1798.
The location set the perfect backdrop for making whisky, a good source of fresh water was nearby and was not far from a plentiful source of peat. It was also an excellent spot to watch out for the excise man. By 1826 the distillery became legal and it was too late to change the name the reason being, the site was already known as ‘Highland Park’. Not only is Highland Park important to us whisky fans, it plays a very important role to the Orkney economy.
Glenrothes 8 Year Old
The MacPhail Collection, Single Malt Scotch Whisky $39.99
Pale pine colored whisky with red fruit, light smoke, citrus and butterscotch to the nose. The texture is just lovely. It starts out lightly and fattens up as it slides along your palate. There is beautiful malt along with notes of fruit and spice. Elegant and well built.
About the Distillery
Situated within the picturesque Spey valley, Rothes is home to five distilleries all tucked along the tiny main street – unbeknown to passing visitors. Amongst these is Glenrothes hidden in a small glen on the outskirts of the village.
Approaching the distillery your eyes are automatically drawn to the right where the village graveyard stretches up the hill. As whisky matures it evaporates this is known as “the angels share”. Feeding off the evaporated whisky is a black sooty fungus, which, at Glenrothes, gives an uncanny eiry look and atmosphere to the
place.
About The Bottler:
For more than 110 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been carefully selecting, filling, maturing and bottling malt whiskies for your enjoyment and has remained independent and family owned throughout its long history.
Visit D&M at http://www.dandm.com/
