Highland Park – Cask Strength Release No. 2 (70cl, 63.9%)

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2 is an Orkney single malt bottled undiluted at 63.9% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It is not chill filtered. The whisky is matured mainly in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks. The barley is malted using Orkney peat, which comes from heather and aromatic plants rather than trees, and the distillery uses traditional floor malting. The nose is aromatic, with heather honey, cinnamon and cracked black pepper, plus a little peat smoke and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied, with honeycomb, baked pineapple and crystallised ginger, then toasted oak, nutmeg and a heathery smokiness. The finish is long and warming, with sweet smoke, dried fruits and spice.