Secret Orkney "Highland Park" 2000 Selection XXIII, Le Gus't

This baby comes with some lovely puffins on the label. Well, I guess they’re puffins, are they not? Colour: pale gold. Nose: it is a very dry, very mineral one, full of clay, limestone, saltpetre, soot and bread dough, also floor-cloth and vase water. All that is much nicer than it sounds mind you. Crushed aspirin, linseed oil... With water: grist, dough, porridge, ink, plaster… Mouth (neat): exactly what we were expecting, a grassy smoke, some chalk, sucking fabric, bitter almonds, green lemons… It’s really sharp and tense. With water: water pulls fruits, namely lime and lemon, as well as more medicinal notes, around ointments and Vick’s best. Tiny herbs too, coriander leaves, Thai basil, borage… Finish: long, rather salty, mineral, very ‘HP’. Indeed, what a distillate. Comments: I refrained from finding Provence herbs, since these charming bottlers are located in Manosque, in the heart of, well, Provence. Please note that neither have I mentioned pastis. Top notch HP, right up my alley.

 

SGP:462 - 90 points.

 

 

Nose: damp leaves, heather and chalk. Beach sand, salty touches and floral top notes, lilies perhaps. Hints of sour berries and mirabelles in second row. Bay leaves. Lanolin as well. A good mix of austerity and roundness.

 

Mouth: a little peaty sharpness and lemon zest at first, then hints of peaches and oranges. Mineral notes, gentian, a touch of brine and sweet mustard. A nice waxy / oily touch with hints of almonds. Floral honey and white pepper.

 

Finish: long, with a subtle herbal / bitter side, coastal notes and heathery peat.

 

Nice Highland Park, muscular and austere but always balanced by sweeter fruits and floral honey. All of these are high quality.