Recently Released: Highland Park 1997-2016 18yo Hunter Laing Old & Rare 54.6%

The aroma featured distinct honey and peat notes. Highland Park HIGHLAND PARK 1997-2016 18yo HUNTER LAING Old & Rare 54.6% One of 266 bottles, Refill Hogshead The nose presented honey, dried grass, plum jam, a subtle orange curaçao, gentle molasses, and underlying peat. On the palate, it began with a smooth mouthfeel, unfolding honeyed sweetness from apricot jam, tempered by mellow tannins, with peat gradually emerging. [Good/Very Good] This is the flagship series from Hunter Laing, bottled last year as Old & Rare. It's Highland Park 1997, matured for 18 years. While recent official bottlings from Highland Park have leaned more towards sherry-forward styles (which aren't my personal preference), there are still occasional gems that showcase the official house style. However, I consistently find non-sherry cask expressions from bottlers to be more reliably delicious. This particular release aligns with what I expect from Hunter Laing's Highland Park bottlings. The honey-driven richness and the peat notes emerging from deeper layers were both clearly present. Drinking such expressions makes me feel that there are no significant changes in the core of the distillery's style, and they continue to uphold their house character.