Highland Park, 54-Year-Old, Orkney, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (46.9%)

When released, this was the oldest bottling Highland Park had ever bottled. This 54-Year-Old shows the wisdom of using both boisterous and quieter wood to create harmony and complexity. After four decades of slumber in gently nutty refill casks, this was transferred to richly spicy, first-fill Sherry casks. Fourteen more years of careful, regular tasting ensured it would be captured at its apogee. Alluding to the age of the distillery at the time of bottling, 225 bottles were produced. Old, lightly smoky whisky like this gives such pleasure with featherweight peat twinkling through every moment and a surefooted roundness on the finish. Utterly immaculate, this is an Orcadian triumph.

Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd