Scotch

Scotch Whisky Review: Claxton's Dalswinton Series Highland Park 35 Year Old

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10

Scotch Whisky Review: Claxton’s Dalswinton Series Highland Park 35 Year Old

You'd be hard pressed to find a better example of what old Highland Park can taste like than this incredible bottling from Claxton's.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
Independent bottler Claxton’s released this special Highland Park 35 Year Old as part of their Dalswinton Series. Distilled in June 1988 and bottled in 2024, this whisky has spent over three decades maturing in an Oloroso sherry cask, resulting in a complex and elegant profile. Bottled all natural at 43.2% ABV.
Appearance:
Medium copper. Oily in the glass with pronounced legs.
Nose:
Expressive and refined. Toffee apples next to a log fire, with soft comforting smoke. Looseleaf tobacco in an old leather pouch. Old oak, like a well-worn library table. Red berries macerated in brown sugar and sherry with grated orange zest. Cloves and cinnamon.
Palate:
Medium to full mouthfeel with a velvety texture. Complex. More of the toffee apples, this time with some vanilla. Delicate sherry notes with red fruit – redcurrants, plums, raisins and berries. Soft, earthy, and comforting heather peat. The high-quality malt comes through, even after three and a half decades.
Finish:
Long and satisfying. Fruit, orange and vanilla fade through floral peat to end with a touch of gentle wood spice.
Comments:
Delicious, elegant, and complex; a rarified Highland Park and a real treat.
The Dalswinton Series. Credit: Claxton’s

The Claxton’s Dalswinton Series

Claxton’s, an independent Scotch whisky bottler based in southern Scotland, has introduced the second edition of its Dalswinton Series. This collection pays tribute to the breathtaking 5,000-acre Dalswinton Estate, home to Claxton’s warehouses and tasting rooms.

The Dalswinton Series 2nd Edition features five exceptional high-age-statement whiskies, each sourced from a different distillery across Scotland, showcasing the nation’s rich whisky heritage. These distilleries are Bunnahabhain, Bowmore, Springbank, Clynelish, and Highland Park.

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What Makes Claxton’s Highland Park 35 Year Old A Must Have For Collectors?

Highland Park has undergone significant transformations in recent years. From the shift in its packagaing and marketing campaigns to an expansive and somewhat perplexing range of whiskies in Global Travel Retail, it’s been a whirlwind of activity. For some whisky enthusiasts, this rapid shift may have felt overwhelming, leading them to explore independent bottlings of Highland Park as a reliable alternative. These offerings often promise clarity in branding alongside exceptional quality—hallmarks of Highland Park’s older stocks.

While Highland Park continues to produce standard bottlings of older whiskies, these are increasingly scarce and still navigating the shift from older packaging to newer designs. Independent bottlers like Claxton’s, however, offer a refreshing consistency in presentation and access to exquisite, well-aged Highland Park expressions. The 35 Year Old release exemplifies what made Highland Park a revered name: a masterfully crafted single malt, rich in complexity, delicately balanced with just a whisper of smoke and peat. This subtle interplay elevates the whisky’s layered flavours, creating a profile that is as satisfying as it is memorable.

Availability & Exclusivity Of Claxton’s Highland Park 35 Year Old?

Much like the rest of the Dalswinton range, this bottle is limited to 100 units across the globe. Making this even more difficult to acquire for those old school Highland Park enthusiasts.

Final Thoughts

Chasing down examples of Highland Park that are as overwhelmingly tasty as this isn’t as easy as it used to be. In times gone by , you could easily walk into any shop and find indie Highland Park bottlings of extreme quality. However, even from big players like Gordon & Macphail, this is becoming less of an occurrence these days.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better example of what old Highland Park can taste like than this incredible bottling from Claxton’s.

Ed Leigh

Ed Leigh is a recognized authority on independent bottlers and artisan Scotch whisky. In 2019, he founded TopWhiskies.com, a specialist retailer dedicated to promoting these often family-run businesses and showcasing their small-batch releases. Based in London, Ed holds certifications in both wine and spirits from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

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