Colour: Plain fudge.
Nose: A very beguiling nose of considerable depth. It suggests forest fruits stewed with demerara sugar and a clove or two. There is a background note of roasted grain and dark chocolate.
Palate: The complexity of the nose is carried forward onto the palate, with the fruitiness giving way to the dry grains. There is also a subliminal hint of raisin chocolate and antique leather, with the Highland Park contributing a heather-peatiness.
Finish: A dry, smoky finish that will put older drinkers in mind of going through a tunnel in a steam train with the carriage windows open.
Verdict: This is a wonderfully successful pairing of an exemplar of the Speyside tradition, with the wilder, wind-swept elements of Orkney. From nose to finish, this is a malt deserving of close attention. Full-bodied, with strongly projected flavours, the blend is a deeply satisfying dram of the highest order.
By Gordon Coxhill, Whisky Enthusiast & Journalist
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