Highland Park has unveiled the latest (and last) expression by its Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, who is retiring after 16 years of service to the distillery.

The Sherry Skies 19 Years Old features 9 casks hand-selected by Motion – 3x European oak ex-sherry quarter casks, 3x American oak ex-sherry quarter casks and 3x- ex-bourbon barrels. 

Sherry-seasoned casks, due to their smaller size, are said to impart a potent sherry flavor to the whiskies matured within them. In contrast, American Oak bourbon casks mellow the tannins, contributing to a balanced and smooth finish.

Throughout his time at Highland Park, Motion oversaw a whopping 90 new expressions of the Orcadian malt and 435 single cask selections for various world markets.

It is also a celebration of the sherry-seasoned oak casks that the distillery sources in Jerez, Spain, as well as the beautiful, sherry-coloured sunsets that one will often see on an Orkney evening.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet and rich with some savoriness. There's caramel, almond, and toffee that exist alongside dried fruits like raisin and sultana, along with a hint of maple syrup, heather honey, poached pear and orange. There's also baking spices—especially cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove—and old cigar box are also present. Toasted oak and fragrant vanilla round out the nose, all enveloped in a subtle, gentle peat smoke.

Taste: Silky in mouthfeel with some sweetness, the initial taste reports a distinct fruit and nut milk chocolate flavor, bursting with raisin and hazelnut. This is followed by notes of caramel and heather honey, which proceed to hints of vanilla paste, green apple, ripe apricots, and peaches. Other dried fruits are also prominent, especially prunes, plump sultana, creamed coconut and candied orange peel that sit atop baking spice.

On the back end, it is also said to have a subtle, ashy smoke that supports the other characteristics without overpowering them.. A hint of dried heather enhances this, while notes of toasted walnut and delicate oak spice emerge towards the end just before the finish.

Finish: Said to be long and dry. The initial sweetness and dried fruits recede, followed by the fruit notes, with apple and peach lingering the longest. This allows the drying oak and baking spices to come to the forefront as the smokiness slowly fades. A final touch of cocoa powder and a leathery savory note come through at the end.

Each expression is bottled at 48.8% ABV with only 1,200 bottles made. It is available on allocation at an MSRP of £265 in select world markets, plus from the distillery shop on Orkney and Highland park's official website. 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team