Highland Park Magnus is a non-age-statement single malt from the Orkney Islands in Scotland, bottled at 40% ABV in a 750-ml format for the North American market. The whisky uses about 20% peated barley, with Orcadian peat burned in the distillery’s kiln, and the remainder sourced from mainland Scotland. Maturation combines Sherry-seasoned American oak casks with refill casks.
Allspice and black pepper adds a welcome focus to the palate. Sweet, salty, and bitter combine into a slightly unbalanced overall taste, at least as compared with Svein, which I recently reviewed. There’s ginger, honey, Irish breakfast tea, brine, dandelion green, and a lovely hint of heathery peat.
Slightly smoky orchard fruits on the early palate, with sultanas, ripe cherries, and cinnamon. Medium to long in the finish, with drying fruit notes, wood spice, and ultimately, licorice sticks.
While the nose doesn't give us much in terms of smoke, the palate has a more distinctive peatiness, which is accompanied by a sugary sweetness, as well as fudge and caramel. The finish is fairly dry with a spicy touch. Pleasant, but not overly complex.
