Highland Park – 17 Years (John Rae Arctic Explorer) (70cl, 54.8%)

Highland Park 17 Years John Rae Arctic Explorer is an Orkney single malt bottled at 54.8% ABV in a 70cl bottle, limited to 1,212 bottles. It celebrates John Rae, who grew up on the islands and is regarded as a leading authority on Arctic travel and survival in the Victorian era. In 2019 Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion chose mainly ex-bourbon and refill casks, with smaller amounts of sherry-seasoned American and European oak. He vatted them together and left the whisky to mature for a further two years. The nose has heather honey, sweet flowering currant and a trace of charred driftwood. The palate has whipped vanilla cream, toffee sponge, caramelised grapefruit and citrus peel. The finish is long, with sweet peat smoke.