Description
The Whisky Big Nose Orkney 2000 19 Years Old Hogshead
The Whisky Big Nose is a highly popular Taiwanese independent bottling series, recognised for its playful illustrated labels and flavour‑driven single‑cask releases at higher strengths. Orkney 2000 19 Years Old Hogshead (labelled “distilled 23 Nov 1999, bottled Nov 2018, one of 360 bottles”) is a “Secret Orkney” single malt from the Orkney Islands in Scotland, widely understood to reflect the character of the island’s top distillery. Matured for 19 years in a hogshead and bottled at 52% ABV with only 360 bottles, it showcases gentle island peat, heather honey and maritime minerality—classic Old Orkney style in a limited single cask.
Distillation & Style
Origin: Scotland, Orkney Islands, where the peat is rich in heather, giving a softer, floral, honeyed smokiness rather than aggressive medicinal peat.
Distilled on 23rd November 1999 and bottled in November 2018, matured 19 years in a hogshead, likely ex‑bourbon or seasoned oak, adding vanilla, coconut and subtle oak spice while preserving the distillate character.
Bottled for The Whisky Big Nose as a single cask, natural colour, non‑chill filtered at 52% ABV to balance cask strength intensity with drinkability; total outturn 360 bottles.
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright golden with light amber hues.
Aroma: Gentle peat smoke, damp earth, sea breeze salinity, heather honey, lemon zest, green apple and vanilla, with notes of dry herbs and mineral tones—clean yet distinctly coastal.
Palate: Medium to medium‑full bodied. Initial honeyed malt and citrus fruit are followed by soft peat smoke, dried herbs, sea salt and peppery spice. At 52% the alcohol provides a firm but controlled grip; a dash of water reveals more floral honey, orchard fruit and herbal depth. Long, layered finish with saline, mineral and light medicinal/herbal notes, very characterful.
Reviews & Accolades
A Chinese‑language whisky blog summarises The Whisky Big Nose Orkney 1999–2018 19YO Hogshead as: “Nose: peaty, wet earth, pronounced heather flowers. Palate: like drinking Chinese herbal tonic—goji berries, dang shen, herbal sweetness—combined with peat and sea air, very distinctive.”
Independent bottling fans often regard this style of Orkney single cask as a “hidden Highland Park” profile: honey, heather, gentle peat smoke, sea breeze and spice in balance, with 18–20 years seen as a sweet spot for elegance and complexity.
Decanting: Sip neat first, then add a few drops of water and rest 10–20 minutes
Special Info: The label specifies “Distilled 23 Nov 1999, Bottled Nov 2018, one of 360 bottles, cask type: Hogshead, ABV 52%”, confirming its single‑cask, limited‑edition nature. Nineteen years in hogshead casks delivers a refined balance of honeyed fruit and island peat: heather, sea breeze, mineral notes and gentle smoke, without heaviness. An excellent choice for fans of Highland Park / Orkney character who enjoy nuanced, maritime single malts.
Origin: Scotland, Orkney Islands
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Secret Orkney (distillery not disclosed)
Distilled: 23 Nov 1999
Bottled: Nov 2018
Maturation: 19 years, Hogshead
ABV: 52%
Volume: 700ml
