Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2

I found myself at the liquor store recently, drawn by the arrival of a High West Double Rye Barrel Select finished in rum casks. It had been a while since my last encounter with Double Rye. My prior experience was before High West incorporated its own distillate, and I've heard the standard offering has declined. Nevertheless, the appeal of a rum cask finish was irresistible. Generally, I've found rum finishes complement certain spirits and enhance many I've sampled. While I was there, I noticed a display for Buffalo Trace, with a purchase limit, due to its fluctuating availability. On impulse, I grabbed a bottle, having never tried it before. After years of enjoying spirits, I'd never sampled one of the standard, affordable bourbons, mainly because by the time I became serious about whisky, Buffalo Trace didn't capture my interest. My understanding is that it's a reasonably priced, enjoyable everyday drink, perhaps slightly superior to other spirits in the under-$30, 90-proof range, possibly better than Maker's Mark but not quite on par with Eagle Rare. Upon returning home, I searched for Buffalo Trace reviews online, as reading others' perspectives fuels my anticipation for tasting and comparing. I haven't opened it yet; it was still morning, and I have other bottles that need finishing first. A reviewer on Breaking Bourbon awarded it a positive score of 3 out of 5 barrels, classifying it as 'Above Average.' My mistake was then scrolling to the comments. One remarked, 'I can't believe they gave this 3 barrels and they also gave Old Forester 100 3 barrels, there's something wrong with this system.' I thought, while I can't contribute since I've tasted neither, my research suggests Buffalo Trace and Old Forester 100 are indeed in a comparable category. Then, a self-proclaimed whisky connoisseur declared they poured their Buffalo Trace down the drain, it was so offensive. I can't endorse wasting spirits. Perhaps if you pour a glass and detest it, you could discard the remainder, but not the entire bottle (gift it, for crying out loud!). Still, the vitriol! The sheer animosity directed at that comment. It was disheartening, yet also somewhat amusing. 'Buffalo Trace is a great whisky!' 'Buffalo Trace is amazing!' Is it truly? I wondered. I don't anticipate greatness or amazingness from a $27 bourbon. I simply hope it meets the 'above average' rating. I bring this up because the entire situation reminded me of a bit from a comedian's special from the mid-to-late 2000s, discussing how we overuse superlative language today. 'That's hilarious!' 'Really, was it so funny you were on the verge of death?' His point was that if we apply such elevated terms to everything, they lose their meaning. So, even though I possess a bottle of Buffalo Trace I haven't tasted, I'm venturing a prediction: I'd be shocked if it proves to be amazing or great or fantastic. If it were, it would be like winning the lottery. I'm confident I have many bourbons in my collection superior to Buffalo Trace; it just felt like a necessary try. So, why dedicate so much space to a prelude about Buffalo Trace's potential? Because this Highland Park Cask Strength Release 2, while not quite amazing, comes remarkably close. It sat on my shelf for a considerable time before I decided to open it, for reasons unknown, perhaps due to interest in other bottles. However, a few weeks ago, I finally sampled the HP CS Release 2 and was utterly impressed. This is genuinely one of the most potent and flavorful scotches I've ever encountered. Despite lacking an age statement, it possesses the intensity of Viking Honor 12 Year, but amplified. The nose is rich with heather, toffee, and molasses, accented by an orange undertone, making it truly delightful. It evokes a sophisticated scented candle, reminiscent of late summer, as August transitions into September, with warm days and cool evenings. This is the spirit to savor on your patio at sunset, with a fire pit crackling, after the children are asleep, sharing the moment with your partner. The palate presents toffee, milk chocolate, and caramel, complemented by that same vibrant citrus note. It's incredibly robust. I find myself wanting to use multiple 'very's': it is exceptionally rich and wonderful. It's like a dessert, a dense cake of flavors. The finish is powerful, lengthy, and magnificent. Honestly, this is the first Highland Park where I feel their Viking marketing theme is justified, as it's the first I've tasted that I imagine a Viking would appreciate after a victory, perhaps slamming the glass, demanding another, all while enjoying the sunset by the fire pit with their partner, post-children's bedtime. And, they'd be careful not to let a drop spill, lest it run down their beard – this spirit is far too precious. Did I mention it was just shy of amazing? Perhaps it is amazing. (I always crave more peat, though adding more might detract from it.) It resides in that premium category for me, where, even at $90 a bottle, I'd contemplate purchasing another.

Release No. 2. 63.9%. Nose: Honey, caramel, flowers, dried vegetation, heather, earth, petrichor, vanilla, cherry, fruity coffee (high-end), unlit cigarettes (also high-end), tobacco smoke, pears and other orchard fruit, a touch of mint and menthol, some fresh herbs. Endless. Palate: Sweet honey, caramel, vanilla, tropical flowers, dried heather, earth, dried fruit, cooked pineapple, mint, citrus, dark chocolate, sea salt and brine, seafood cooked with sweet fruit, some mineral notes, copper. Again, endless. Finish: Honey, dried heather, dried flowers, dried firewood, oak, menthol, petrichor, smoke from a seaside fire, earth, pine, tobacco smoke, dark chocolate, chocolate mints, long lingering dried leaves, more seaside bonfire smoke, cigar smoke, Milk Duds candy, possibly some almond... I'm exploring deeply now, but I think there are still more treasures to uncover. This is an incredible Scotch. For my palate, it's one of the most exceptional, complex, and interesting things I've ever tasted, in any category of alcohol. I'm qualifying that ("for my palate") because 1) it doesn't make much sense as an NAS CS blend and 2) people I respect have given less enthusiastic reviews of this specific release. But I'm three-quarters through this bottle and have savored every sip like few other whiskies I've experienced. My best explanation for this begins here: I strongly believe taste is highly subjective, and a major factor in that subjectivity is genetics (which, ironically, isn't truly subjective, but it's a case of objective genetics creating subjective experiences - leave me alone). I think where your family originates from, over generations, absolutely shapes the flavors you perceive most intensely, most intimately, and gravitate toward most strongly. I've read a little on the subject and it seems science doesn't contradict me (take that with a grain of salt - I do), but anecdotally, I point to my girlfriend: she is Armenian (born there, emigrated later) and, naturally, prefers food from that region - boiled cow hoof soup is a cherished traditional once/twice a year meal.* She also dislikes, or even actively hates, things like pasta and rice which aren't nearly the staples in that region that they are elsewhere. I could elaborate much further on this topic, but, trust me, we rarely completely agree on what food is "good." Back to the whisky: my family is 99.8% (very high proof!) Scandinavian, originating from two families with deep roots in Norway and Finland. It wouldn't surprise me to discover that my ancestors raided Orkney at some point. You can essentially blame me for all the Viking themes HP has incorporated over the past decade or so. (And obviously, I love it, despite my best intentions.) So, my genetics likely predispose me to enjoy this whisky. That's my best guess as to why I consider this practically the best thing I've ever tasted while others find it, you know, adequate, or even quite good. All that said, I'm not adjusting my rating here. Despite recognizing that others will certainly disagree, I love this whisky and will be very disappointed when it's gone. (And yes, I intend to stock up on at least a few bottles of this while I still can.) And I hope you all discover the bottle that does the same for you, regardless of my opinion or anyone else's. *Khash is supposedly a hangover cure, but requires hours of pre-boiling and is typically served around 7 am with generous shots of vodka. So basically, you have to plan to be hungover, have someone else cook it for you, and then plan to do nothing else for the rest of the day. And it's very much an acquired taste.

Nose: Dark / burnt sugar, burnt butterscotch, sherry notes, dried and dark orange peel, and maybe some toasted and sherried peat. The burnt butterscotch note is strong and amazing. Flavor: Smoky. Sweet honey / caramel toffee and burnt butterscotch. Incredibly spicy and peppery (but without too much burn or dryness). A decent amount of peat and plenty of sherry notes. Good oak. Body: So thick! Caramel / butterscotch / toffee that completely coats the mouth. Finish: Smoke, spice, pepper, oak, with a touch of peat, plenty of sherry notes, and a lingering caramel sweetness.

Aroma: Candy, pear drops, damp wood smoke, earthy peat. Taste: Sweet and peaty, with saline, treacle, honey, licorice, toasted oak, black pepper, and anise. Ending: A lengthy finish with light smoke, nutty notes, chocolate, chili, and toasted oak. The lingering taste reveals salt, oak, burnt caramel, shortbread, and leather. This is a superb dram. Creamy, rich, salty, smoky, woody... I could continue! It's complex, layered, and incredibly delicious! Considering the price, it's a steal, but be cautious of its 63.9% ABV – ouch! An outstanding dram.

It took me a while to appreciate this one. The bottle is mostly full and has been open for about six months. Aroma: French vanilla, slightly charred buttered popcorn, straw, dried apricots, graham cracker, and subtle baking spices. Taste: Rich, viscous, coating, with vanilla, baking spices, and smoke notes. It brings heat, which intensifies the longer it's held. Ending: Syrupy, sticky, and numbing. This could potentially serve as a dental anesthetic. As a certain band sang, 'I have become comfortably numb.' Ultimately, I grew to love this bottle and desired more. I've slightly increased my rating.

Nose: Salty, like buttered bread or a croissant. Hints of spicy wood. Palate: A slightly oily, salty sensation with an intensely hot, spicy burn reminiscent of chili heat. Finish: A wonderful smoky charcoal finish that tempers some of the heat, though both sensations persist. Notes: It's as if a glowing ember from a barbecue was placed in your mouth. Adding water doesn't reduce the intensity.