Excellent Gravy ! (Highland Park 12 Year Old Whisky)

Member Name: sidneygee

Product:	Highland Park 12 Year Old Whisky
Date:	06/03/01 (423 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Distinctive, subtle but complex flavour, stays with you

Disadvantages: How dare you ! There are none, apart from the expense..

I did have the very best job in the world – in the eyes of many people, particularly those of Scottish descent.

Indeed at one time, when I had delivered a short talk on my knowledge of Malt Whisky to a group of the medical profession about this particular topic, at the end a large bearded fellow stood up and spoke. He started by saying:

“That wirr a verra interesting shpeil, Maister Gee, but Ah think Ah Speke fur us a’ here whun Ai say that it’s BLUDDY DISCUGUSTING that a bluiddy gorballing Sassenach heathen fra Wales has to cum up hier to Scorttland and tell us all about Whusky – an git the pleasure o’ drinking the stuff fur free too !!!!!”

It was said with such vehemence and fire, that you really needed to see the twinkle in his eye....

You see, one of my responsibilities, as the Edinburgh City Analyst/Public Analyst (from 1980 to 1996) was that I was authorised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to sign export certificates, so that foods and drink exported from the United Kingdom to other parts of the world would be accepted by the governments of that country.

Before I could sign my name on a certificate, the food or drink had to be analysed by the Laboratory which was under my control and direction and, naturally, I personally would have to satisfy myself as to the 'organoleptic characteristics' of that product before I could sign the certificate, as well as ensure that the quality of the analytical results were appropriate.

I was appointed as Public Analyst for Lothian, Borders and Highland regions and the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Neither Borders Region nor the Shetland Islands produce Scotch Whisky. The other areas DOO !

Each year between 50 and 290 bottles of Scotch whisky (we never quite made the magic '300' total!) were analysed by this Laboratory for the purpose of preparing export certificates and I was R
16;authorised’ to TASTE them all. This is very important personal appointment, because most of the bottles came into the Laboratory without duty being paid on them, and STRICT controls had to be exerted to satisfy HM Customs & Excise.

I should perhaps also explain that these whiskies were not your average blend variety. Oh no, such lesser spirits are strictly for the unsophisticated local (UK) markets. Even the ‘ordinary’ Genfiddich or Glenmorangie did not come our way very often.

What we tended to receive for ‘analysis’ were the ‘better malts’ and the ‘De Luxe Blends’, many of which I will write about for DooYoo. I will not however include those sent to specific export markets.

So, I first ‘met’ the products of the Highland Park Distillery, as part of my ‘professional’ duties, so to speak.

As far as I am aware, this is the only Orchadian whisky and the 12 years’ old is one of my favourite malt whiskies. The flavour is subtle but complex, with an almost salty tang, and with only a trace (to my palate) of the Islay-phenolic after-taste. Highland Park has a robust flavour and stays in the palate for 2 –3 minutes after finishing your ‘dram’.

All well and good, I hear you say, but why doo yo particularly favour Highland Park, rather than others ? Well, I will admit that I also use it as gravy - on ma haggis !

Ahh, the haggis !!

I will here re-tell a little story from my third trip to Buenos Aires in March 1999.

My favourite ‘watering hole’, the Druid In (a Celtic Pub/ restaurant) had just welcomed me and I had distributed my ‘Celtic gifts’ to the De Stephano brothers (who own the bar) and to the waiters/waitresses.

I had ‘smuggled’ in a large MacSweens’ Haggis on my previous trip, to allow them to hold their first Burns Supper wit
h a ‘Real Haggis’ (rather than the appalling tined variety - which seemed to have the appearance of canned dog-food).

I also had sent them a post-card in the shape of a Haggis, which was in pride of place behind the bar, and I had also brought them a copy of a Highland dress catalogue, since 'the bros' were thinking of getting themselves full kilt outfits. They were looking at the ‘sporran section’, and in particular a very large and very fine white sporran.

“Of course”, I said (quite seriously).

“That is from the Albino haggis.
They are now raised on Haggis Farms and were verry rare, until the farmers found out how to breed them.

“Most sporrans come from the normal ‘wild haggis’, a shy wee creature that inhabits the Bens and Braes of the Highlands.

"Indeed, one of the initiation ceremonies for all young Scots is to serve as the ‘stoick wielder’ in a haggis hunt.

“The stoick is a special sharpened weapon that is used for killing the haggis and does not damage the fur, so that the very best sporrans can still be made from the pelt. The Skein Dhu is used for ‘dressing the haggis’ and removing the pelt, and the Dirk for cutting up the haggis after cooking ....”,

I said pointing very reverendly to the other Highland Dress accoutrements in the catalogue. I kept a 'straight face' and they took it all in (all very po-faced...)!

I was able to leave them with those images, which they never questioned .....

Anyway, haggis is served with tatties and neaps (mashed potato and mashed swede/turnip).. The best gravy for haggis (as any Scotsman will tell you) is whisky -and the best whisky for this purpose is, in my opinion (having tried at least 30 different) is Highland Park 12 years old Malt Whisky.

The persistent flavour combines well with the spicy fl
avour of the wee beastie !

Just you try it MacSween’s Haggis is certainly available from Safeways. And 'Highland Park Malt Whisky' is now commonly available.

I seem to recall that a survey of Malt Whisky around Xmas 2000 reckoned that Highland Park was ‘among the best’. I wouldn’t ever consider that one Malt whisky could ever be described as THE best, but you cannot go far wrong than to buy a bottle of THIS malt whisky.

It will also look good in your booze cabinet, the squat bottle with the wide neck, just seems to ask you to open it....

Strength 40% VOL

Copyright Sidneygee 2001

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