Highland Park 25 Year Old 2004:

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thank you to everyone who has tuned in to watch a review or post a comment over the years. Whisky has been one of my life’s passions, and I have enjoyed sharing with so many like-minded people. I’m glad you found this channel. Mike

[@javieracosta3439]

Congrats on review #500! I appreciate the straight forward, no nonsense videos. Here's to 500 more. Cheers!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thank you! Cheers

[@Houman7]

Congrats on reaching to 500 reviews! I still miss those weird, fun reviews with Billy. They used to be all over the place but really fun and absolutely unique. At the end any Highland Park 25 and 30 before 2019 is a banger. Really miss those expressions.

[@foodquig]

Happy milestone!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks Quig, hope all is well!

[@fehquig]

@@topshelfwhiskyVery well... My viral video went viral again thanks to Instagram... I don't even do Instagram!

[@torbjornkarlsen]

Congratulations on the milestone! I always listen to your reviews whenever there's a bottle I'm curious about buying. I like that you're strict and fussy about it, and also that you tend to present it as a buyers dilemma and evaluate value. Very helpful!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks man, we appreciate it! That’s our goal, make sure we let people know what we think good whisky is and whether it’s worth it for the price… and have a little fun for ourselves.

[@torbjornkarlsen]

For sure. It's up to us consumers to hone the industry to be the best it can, and you guys are putting in a solid contribution. Skål from Norway!

[@stuffforwork]

Keep up the great work!

[@MarkHanson-du3qs]

Thanks Mike, Dustin and Billy, its been fun and a great help to many to not waste our money on crap. Cheers!

[@topshelfwhisky]

😉 cheer’s

[@sorinsrn5442]

Wow...Congratz guys!!! 500 whisky reviews and sharing with us the knowledge. I wish we will be here healthy and strong also for the 1000th review!!!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Same! Cheers

[@RomainRiviere]

Have been following you for quite a long time, always had fun listening to you guys. Thanks for all of this and congratulations on your 500th

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks so much! Glad you’re here

[@cato451]

The old 50.7% HP 25 year old bottlings are the ones that did it for me. Congratulations on #500 guys.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Always been a fan of this distillery and this age statement

[@topshelfdustin3060]

This would have been a heck of a bottle to have early in on anyone's journey!

[@PaulAlabama]

Congrats on 500 reviews! Loving your channel, please keep doing what you do. Cheers from Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks! Glad you’re here.

[@boswineguy5461]

Congrats guys! 🥃

[@jimmyt7640]

Thank you guys for all the hard work you have put in over the years providing us with these awesome reviews. I’ve been following you for 5+ years and you are my favorite whisky review channel. Cheers to the next 500 episodes.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Five years, thanks! Long time

[@JoukoL]

500! Congratz, that's a big number. Thank You for all the information and recommendations. Hazelburn 2008/2010, Bunna 12 CS (2022) and Port Charlotte OLC: 01 would not be in my shelf without you guys and that would be big shame.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Love to hear that! Gives me pride to help people find enjoyment… those are all great whiskies.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Really great to hear!

[@andypike1234]

This channel matured a lot. One of the best. You two are a great duo. Keep on!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks!

[@antaltenbroeke]

Congratulation with the 500th review, quite an achievement. Thanks and keep it up!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks, will do!

[@teddyballgame25]

Congratulations on 500!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks Teddy! Appreciate all you comments.

[@SingleMaltWithme]

Well, just to be one of those guys that pops up but you've never heard from before, hi! Congrats on your 500th review! Been consuming your content for a while. Love what you guys do and feel you bring straight forward, honest and very (but fairly) critical commentary on all the bottles you review which I think is what makes your channel stand out amongst the crowd. All the best to you both, congrats again, and here's to another 500!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thank you! Good to hear from you for the first time. Cheers

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Welcome and thanks! I know we might rub a few people wrong with being critical, but these are expensive whiskies. They deserve the good and bad.

[@SingleMaltWithme]

Couldn't agree more, it's something we need more of, especially for the more limited releases that come in at higher price points. @@topshelfdustin3060

[@davidcraig8367]

Congrats on 500 and many thanks for your outstanding content. Please keep it up!

[@hicksy771]

Congrats guys. Keep up the great reviews 🎉

[@triplecap4307]

Congratulations on the 500! You’ve definitely got better over the years

[@topshelfdustin3060]

For 1000 we should see if we can go to Billy's tatoo shop lol

[@topshelfwhisky]

Ha! I remember you Triplecap from the Billy days. Thanks for sticking around! I remember you were critical back in day… my man !

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@topshelfdustin3060if I remember, Billy wasn’t his favorite 🤣🤣

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@topshelfwhiskyhaha, all the more fun

[@djbeacon6895]

Mike, HotDamn on 500 reviews. Glad I found your UTubez channel a few years ago. Have discovered so many great whiskeys. Looking forward to at least another 500. CHEERS!!

[@topshelfwhisky]

I appreciate you, Dave. Chees buddy

[@TheMadtownMaltster]

That’s an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations guys! Keep up the good work!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Congratulations guys. Love old Highland Park anything

[@topshelfwhisky]

Highland Park, Talisker, Lagavulin are just not that same three days

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

@@topshelfwhisky Yes recently finished the last of the Pre Viking Hype bottles that my local dusty source store had. Got 2 each of the 18, 15, 12. Broke down and got a current 12 and it's unrecognizable from the old ones.

[@naksxy]

Congrats guys on 500 reviews 🎉

[@jonhusser6630]

Congrats on 500 guys! Fun to watch you having a good time enjoying this HP 25.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks! 👍

[@steveno7058]

Broken cork! Classic

[@christinecamley]

Hey it’s fabulous that you got married Mike!! Love this expression!! Sure I want a very old Lagavulin but when don’t I?!! Huge congratulations!! Love your thoughts on this delicious whisky - from you both!! You guys rock!! Cheers!! Oh!! I just celebrated my 33rd anniversary!! I can hardly believe it!! It’s been a blast!! I married a terrific guy!!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thank you! 33 YEARS! what’s the secret, I must know. My wife and I have been together for 8 and have our first child on the way. I want another 25 with her Old Lagavulin is always best but I did pick up the 22 Jazz and the new distillery team pick.

[@christinecamley]

@@topshelfwhisky Good communication is the secret to making everything better! Listening, taking time to understand each other! Lots of humour always helps! Patience! Congratulations that you and your wife are expecting a baby! That's amazing news!! We have 3 children, two away at university and one still at home in Grade 12 and enjoy every second because the time flies by so fast parenting! You will be a terrific dad! Hey the 22 Jazz Lagavulin sounds spectacular as well as the new distillery team pick!! I hope you review them eventually Mike!! I can't wait!! You have a lot to look forward to!! Exciting news!! Cheers to you and your wife!! 🙂

[@jonadad]

Great review guys! Nice seeing the real world of dealing with these old bottles. I've had to use metal micro filters to clean broken-cork micro-debris from the juice in these old bottles more than once. It's a rite of passage. 🙂 I have this same HP bottle and it's a unique one--worth getting. I've got this one at 91 points, but like the newer 25yr 48.1% just a bit more at 92 points. Congrats on 500 reviews!

[@topshelfwhisky]

You know your HP, and core repair, lol. I've had to use a strainer, chopsticks even decanters. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty.

[@jonadad]

I thought chopsticks were reserved only for rare Hibeki and Karuizawa bottlings. At least our dirty hands have a nice smell. 🙂@@topshelfwhisky

[@jasoncoates1835]

Triaminic is the orange-flavored cough syrup you're looking for... or at least it was when I was a kid. 🙃

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Dang, cork broke for a 500th...well done for pulling it out nicely, Mike ! I have so many cork broke here that I have to have loads of corks in advance....I had a mini of this one in a box offer with the old 18 yo but it came across more agressive on oak than your bottle, curiously....(now minis can be tricky I know). Some of the sweet notes you got might come from the E150a's added, mind you (they stopped doing it in late 2006 if not mistaken, just before the rebranding & doubling of price too...). I liked it but prefered the old 18 yo of that time..Slainte to 500 more reviews ! 🥳👏🥃

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thanks Greg! I keep a “few” empty bottles in the basement for just such an occasion.

[@keithpetersen560]

This 1979 HP 25 sounds interesting. Didn't recall if you mentioned a price though? I've enjoyed the 21 & 25 yr. I did have a chance to try the 30 yr and I got a lot of chocolate orange, kinda of what your describing here. With the 21 & 25 yr I got the traditional HP heather honey notes and enjoyed those better than the 30 yr. The 30 yr chocolate orange deviated from the standard HP profile that I was use to. I've also had some great single barrel cask strength as well. Great review.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

price on this since it was bottled in 2004 is weird. I think these can still be found for low 1,000-1,500 range but mike would be better to comment. One things for sure, it won't be an easy one to get as these don't have that collector reputation where every store has one with something crazy. But if you do find a store, expect them to ask above auctions/groups and be 2k+.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I purchased this back in 2017 if I’m not mistaken, for 500… these are still around in the range Dustin mentioned. Highland Park, in the past, increased the percentage of first fill Sherry cask’s as the age statements went up. With the 25 being “up to 50% first fill” . The 30, is all second fill. That difference changes the profile of the whisky.

[@ironmantran]

I down a case o f this HP25 ("dawn label") in 1998-2002 era : ever since, I only buy the 18 . . . HP quality changes too much 2010-2020. Now, I only buy the Cask Strength occasionally... nice vid + COngrats !

[@topshelfwhisky]

Highland Park along with Ralisker were two of my favorite five distilleries for decades. They have slipped terribly.