Nose: Spirity, sweaty, nutty, autumn leaves, Darjeeling tea, dried apple, herbal potpourri, humus, damp moss and sweetly decaying tree-stumps. Sherry and very light peat smoke. Primarily a grassy, herbaceous nose with sweet overtones. Palate: Sweet malt and black tea in the arrival with a definite smoke presence (more obvious than on the nose). The peat smoke builds a little in the development with salted plums, ginger chunks in syrup, dried dates and lemon preserved in olive oil. There is a progression to dryness through the palate with leathery brine notes appearing but sweetness remains apparent throughout. The texture is full and creamy. Finish: Medium. The palate is drying, but also has sweet smoky malt notes and grassy cereal. This is the 3rd of a flight of 6 Highland Park whiskies that I’m tasting today, and it is the first to show a definite sherry influence. However this is no sherry-monster but rather presents a crisp leafy-walnut skin character and indicates either second-fill or very lightly seasoned first-fill oloroso casks. In many ways it is the complimentary whisky to the Spirit of the Bear expression, with a sherry casking focus rather than ex-bourbon. The nose develops given some time in the glass as its initial shyness is overcome. The palate is good, it lacks a little in complexity and is a touch on the watery side but not enough to spoil the experience – it’s dry finish saves it. However this is obviously quite young whisky. I seldom say this but here is one whisky I would like to see at slightly higher proof. I think this young lightly-sherried profile would be very good indeed at 48% where the thin, almost watery body would be filled-out by a more intense presence. This is the least impressive of the three drams I’ve had so far today, but we’re still talking low 80s for the score, which isn’t shabby at all, and at the asking price it’s good value. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)