So yesterday I received a 2oz sample of this newest NAS Highland Park from my good friend @LeeEvolved he himself having received a 6oz sample from our mutual friend @PBMichiganWolverine. So thanks to the both of you for the chance to try this guy out. I have many, MANY other samples to choose from at the moment, but this one caught my interest and I had to try it ASAP. Dragon Legend is made with a higher percentage of peated malt than its standard core range. Bottled at 43.1% ABV and is natural color of honey gold and is most likely chill filtered. Big juicy sherry notes jump out on the nose. Raisins, figs, sherry, maple, caramel, molasses. Slightly smoky, but not too noticeable compared to the sherry notes. Floral, heather honey, candy apples, light oak and Juicy Fruit gum. A light earthy/mineral note. The peat is here, but very much the floral Orkney peat vs the intensely earthy and vegetal peat of Islay. Plums, grilled apricots, pickled ginger, pecans and almonds. I love this style nose, big rich sherry full of flavor. This is not one of the more intense examples of this style, but it is a good one. The palate has soft but flavorful peat, lovely sherry, but not too intense on either front. Walnuts, pecans, sherried fruits - apples, plums, blackberries, strawberries, grapes. Sweet vermouth, cantaloupe, cloves, ginger. Threads of smoke weave in and out, but never dominate. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and mouth coating. A medium long finish with sherry, nuts, light peat, cloves and is dry. I really wasn’t expecting this much sherry from an expression that is hanging its hat on having higher than normal amounts of peated malt. The peat is there, and is perceptively higher than the 12 year old, but the sherry is the star here. It seems like a 65/35 blend of HP 12 and Macallan 12. Fairly complex at times but also elegant in its simplicity at other times. Master of Malt lists this at $43 and at that price this is totally worth it. 4.25. Cheers