Review #418 - Adelphi 2007 Breath of the Isles (Highland Park) 16 Year
While not stated anywhere on the label, this Breath of the Isles bottling from the Adelphi independent bottlers is likely Highland Park. The peat level is right, a lot of the tasting notes line up, and on some packaging for their Breath of the Isles series, Adelphi also refers to the Orkney Islands, home to that distillery.
This example comes from a single cask, which was aged for 16 years before bottling in 'an oak cask.' Because it yielded a bottle count of 350, we know this is larger than any typical ex-bourbon barrel or hogshead; still, we don't have other details. It was bottled at a cask strength of 57.1% ABV, and as always with Adelphi, there's no artificial coloring or chill filtration.
Adelphi 2007 Breath of the Isles (Highland Park) 16 Year
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 149 (2024)
Age Statement: 16 Years
Strength: 57.1% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; bottled 2023; 350 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 50% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Soft and balanced, nicely measured; there's a decent amount of oak showing some maturity. Baking notes of clove and vanilla arrive, and then there's a sweeter smell of honey. Subtle heather notes, too... a classic bourbon-style highlander.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel, quite woody and spicy. The vanilla from the nose becomes more dry, and we also get brown sugar, nutmeg, and more of that clove. It's oily almost to the point of being syrupy; in the background, there's that subtle twist of peat smoke lingering.
Finish: Still oaky, in a pleasant way - cedar, with more baking spices of nutmeg and clove. Great viscosity remains into this finish, and there's a soft floral side to the aftertaste.
Final Note: Very pretty whisky - well balanced, a little restrained. It does show a lot of that Highland Park character - soft peat, heather, nice baking notes from an ex-bourbon type of cask. Nice continuity from the nose to the palate and finish, and the subtle floral flavors at the end were a treat.
Value is alright - a bit of an expensive bottle, but there's very nice flavor here. If you're looking for an elegant, classic Highland single malt, this could be a decent purchase.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.04
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Highland Park reviews:
Review #324 - Highland Park 13 Year Single Cask - Bourbon World Pick
Review #270 - SMWS 4.328 'Meets Expectations' - Highland Park 14 Year
Review #269 - SMWS 4.319 'From Coast to Kiln' - Highland Park 10 Year
Review #136 - Highland Park 12 Year
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