Highland Park – Harald Warrior Series (70cl, 40%)

A single malt from Highland Park, bottled at 40% in a 70cl bottle. It is the third edition in the six-part Warrior Series, named after Harald Fairhair, King of Norway, who founded the earldom of Orkney. The shield on the label and packaging recalls his berserker warriors, who fought with shields. It carries no age statement and was matured half in American and half in European oak. It is coloured and chill-filtered, and is a limited edition. The nose has grapes, candied orange, vanilla, ginger, wild strawberries, sandalwood and a subtle peat smoke. The palate offers sponge biscuit, nutmeg and lavender in a deep, complex body, and the finish is long with woody spice and a little peat smoke.