This is my first bottle of Highland Park 12, though not my first taste. The nose is inviting, interesting, and enticing, with a bright minerality that lifts from the surface. Light notes of peat and leather are apparent, but I mostly sense golden treacle, honeycomb, and barley sugar. The taste is incredibly malt forward, with rich and earthy molasses carrying the palate. Beneath the barley sweetness, I also taste grilled orange, prunes, and cranberry. The finish is tart and malty, carrying the same hint of peat the nose alludes to. This malt is both easygoing and very interesting, a testament to Highland Park’s formidable contribution to scotch.