Highland Park Spirit of the Bear

It feels that its a little young, the taste is a little empty. I think it'll be more interesting if it has more abv. What I liked that the spirit doesn't feel and in aftertaste there is some not strong smoky

A travel retail expression of Highland Park, this time offered as a Smokey and Bold single malt, which is always something good. Spirit of the bear is the name of this bottle, and it tells the story of the Bearskins that Vikings wore, which supposedly had their spirits attached, and helped the warriors when battles started. Bottled at 40%abv, amber color. Matured in sherry filled european casks. On the nose, it is very appealing, very perfumed. An aromatic peat, dry dark cake and yeast. There is some prune acidity. Peaty aroma feels young; letting it breath will make it even more aromatic. A dehydrated fruit aroma rises, it is fairly complex and it sticks into the different walls of the Glencairn, and if you move the glass while nosing it, it is remarkable how it changes from peaty, to acid and then to fruity. After a second sip, the peat which wasn't overly powerful nor bold as promised in the label, has been tamed. Spearmint and lots of vanilla appeared. On the palate, it is super easy drinkable and very pleasant. Green apple peel, vanilla and prunes. After the first sip, it became a dessert: lots of vanilla and maybe prunes somewhere. Aftertaste is very pleasant. It is a puff of smoke and pepper, very balanced and lovely. After a few sips, it becomes more salty and spicy. Nice, but light. Overall, this is not what it says on the label. It is not overly peaty or bold. It is sweet and fruity with a pleasant puff of smoke, and i really liked it. I feel this is a good everyday dram, not expensive at all, but if you buy it under the promise of extreme peatiness, you can be dissapointed. My score for it is a solid 85 over 100 and i would recommend it as a very enjoyable but not a very smokey dram.

Nose: lightest note of peat from all the HPs that I tried. Light fruitier note. White grapes, apple, lime. Taste: chocolate, overly oaked. Pepper. Otherwise a pretty boring experience Finish: dark chocolate and raw wood. Not a bad lightly peated whisky but I expected more considering the quality of the rest of the HP core range