Highland Park – 18 Year Old Single Cask Series Release 2022 (60%)

This is an 18 year old single cask bottling from Highland Park, released in 2022 at a cask strength of 60% ABV. It comes from cask 4391, a first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak cask, and 565 bottles were filled. It belongs to a yearly series in which Highland Park's master whisky maker, Gordon Motion, picks a small number of casks. The distillery sits on Orkney, and the house character leans on Orkney peat for a balanced, smoky sweetness. The nose offers fresh pear, ginger and sweet banana. The palate is rich and full, with toasted cedar, spice, clove, toffee, gingerbread and liquorice. The finish is long, with citrus peel and peat smoke.