Highland Park – 16 Year Old Wings of the Eagle (70cl, 44.5%)

This is a 16-year-old single malt from Highland Park, Scotland's northernmost distillery, bottled at 44.5% in a 70cl bottle. It is a limited release in the four-part Travel Edition dedicated to Viking legends. The eagle on the bottle recalls the Norse tale of an eagle in the branches of the world tree Yggdrasil, whose wingbeats made the wind. The whisky matures for 16 years in ex-sherry casks of European oak and American white oak. Heather, bonfire smoke, honey and dried fruit mark the nose. Sweet figs, apricot, orange, nutmeg, marzipan and chocolate sit with peat smoke on the palate. The finish is medium, warm and dry, with brief fruit and longer oak spice and smoke.