Part three of the “Premium Highland Park samples from Lee” series of reviews. Tonight is the vaunted 25 year old. This is basically the same stuff as the 18 year old but with a higher proportion of first fill sherry casks. Bottled at 45.7% ABV, natural color of dark copper and most likely non chill filtered. The nose is all sweet sherry at first. Sweet, but not too sweet. It’s elegant. Full of warm wood and lovely fruits. Lots of cherries, oranges and raisins. Almonds, marzipan, maple syrup, toffee and sherry. Furniture polish but in a good way. Very light mint, more cherries and dark toffee. Mocha, chocolate and savory tobacco. Honey, vanilla and a bare thread of smoke. There is a slight alcohol note but otherwise this is a fantastic nosing whisky. The palate begins, unfortunately, with some bitter oak. It’s follows the nose with cherries, almonds and marzipan. Oranges, tobacco, very light smoke and sherry. It’s also slightly astringent with a little pepper. I have to say it is surprisingly lacking in depth given its age, but the flavors it does have are strong. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is very oily, mouthwatering and mouth coating. A medium short finish that is mostly bitter oak with cherries and sherry. I will give this warning to anyone who has the opportunity to try this one...NO WATER! I had a bit left in my glencairn, about a quarter ounce or 15mL and decided to try a bit of water to see if it helped with the bitterness. Killed the nose and did nothing for the bitterness. While this is 25 year old does not have the best nose on a whisky I’ve ever had, it is still fantastic. The mouthfeel is luxurious. It’s a shame the palate and finish lessened all the good things leading up to them. If I had paid the $600 that this goes for around here I would have been a little disappointed. But at that price it’s hard to justify anyways. I’m incredibly lucky to have tried some at all and immensely grateful for my friend @LeeEvolved who sent me this sample. 4.5 stars Cheers