For this review, @skillerified was generous enough to set me up with a blind sample with the #9 on it to explore and possibly venture a guess on what it could be. So, time to open this one up, write out some notes and hopefully be close. The nose starts with a light effervescent mix of lemon and lime fruits, dark chocolate covered raisins, barley field funk and leather then espresso, seaside rocky minerality and a smoldering campfire that fades to the background of fruits of salted mango, charred pineapple and balsamic strawberries that transitions to candied ginger and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium yet creamy mouthfeel starting with a light effervescent mix of fruits of lemon and lime, dark chocolate covered espresso beans, barley field funk and leather then a mild spice that quickly fades to figgy pudding, seaside rocky minerality and freshly lit tobacco that fades to the background of fruits of mango purée, charred pineapple and balsamic strawberries that transitions to candied ginger and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with espresso, lemon and lime zest, light ocean brine, mild pipe tobacco smoke, creamy mango purée, dark chocolate covered raisins, leather and polished oak. This is a really tasty dram that the nose has an enjoyable balance of light peat, farmyard funk, moderate sherry and slightly sour creamy citrus that carries over to the palate with a light yet airy mouthfeel that maintains the balance found on the nose before finishing with a mixture of mild bitter earthiness, sweet and sour creamy citrus, light smoke, moderate sherry and polished oak that fades at a medium length. I’ll probably be wrong, but I’ll venture a guess with this being something from Glengyle. Alright, so @skillerified was this indeed a Glengyle product? The answer and what this sample actually was is none other than ………………. Highland Park 18 year (Old Packaging)!!! Oh hell, another Highland Park 18!!! Well, this is the older bottling and there are some differences from the last blind that was the new Highland Park 18 Viking Pride bottle starting with a darker color along with a richer sherry influence whereas the newer bottling has a lighter color and the sherry influence is far subtler. Personally, I would rate them the same, but could easily see someone favor one over the other depending on whether they would want more sherry influence or less. Thanks so much @skillerified for sharing these samples with me, to be able to blindly compare the different releases of the Highland Park 18s from past to present.