Highland Park Spirit of the Bear

This is part of a trio of duty-free exclusive bottlings inspired by legendary Viking creatures. The marketing team really put effort into crafting narratives for these releases. In preparation for combat, Viking fighters supposedly believed they could channel the immense strength and endurance of the great bear by wearing its pelts. These brave combatants became known as 'berserkers,' their name originating from the Old Norse terms 'ber' for bear and 'sekr' for skin. Apparently, these bear-skin-clad warriors also thought whisky ought to be bottled by the liter. If you don't bottle by the liter, you risk facing an axe to the skull. These are factual accounts. Nose: It's light, but not necessarily delicate. I immediately detect a strong cereal character, with plenty of honey and malt, and a freshly baked pastry quality. After about 15 minutes in my glass, however, it opened up to reveal the heather florals often found in this producer's whiskies, which I'm starting to appreciate, along with a bit of vanilla and a hint of fresh coastal air. I'm trying to convince myself there's some smoke present, but I'm not succeeding. Palate: A smooth, juicy, and refreshingly crisp arrival, packed with malt, fresh orange zest, and crystallized ginger. A creamy roundness comes from a toffee note, and some black pepper adds interest. The smoke here is just a subtle hint that ties everything together. It's light and slightly herbal, leaning towards perfumed. By the time I finish my dram, the whisper has become a quiet conversation I'd happily continue. Finish: Medium length. Slightly drying and warming, with a pleasant, fading blend of honey and marmalade on white toast. Pepper is the last sensation to disappear. I'm uncertain how I feel about this one. Many of the appealing qualities of this producer's core range are present, but they all seem a bit brief and lacking in depth. On the other hand, I wouldn't hesitate to pour this generously and enjoy it in good company. The liter bottling, especially when on sale for AUD $99, would be an excellent bargain. Is it as good as, say, the 10-year-old? Probably not. Is it more easily enjoyed and just as good as my recent NAS bottlings, Dragon Legend and Raven? Yes. Next time I travel, my baggage allowance will certainly be filled with this. [Pictured here with this dram's Viking-themed geological sample: a biotite-garnet amphibolite, locally known as cherry cake. This attractive specimen is from Akland in Southern Norway and represents metamorphic conditions exceeding 500 degrees Celsius and pressures consistent with depths of around 30-40 km. No bears were involved in its formation.] Bottle size is 1000 ml. This producer's current ranking (mostly for my reference): 10: 3.75 12: 4 15: 4.25 18: 4.75 25: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25 Valkyrie: 4.25 Dragon Legend: 3.25 Voyage of the Raven: 3.5 Spirit of the Bear: 3.5

Aroma: Faintly perfumed with heather honey, grapefruit, a touch of vanilla, and subtle seaside minerality. It presents a calm and reserved scent with a fresh character, instantly signaling Highland Park. A mere whisper of smoke is detected, almost imperceptible. As it sits, the aroma deepens and gains texture in the glass. Taste: A gentle, mild malt entry with citrus notes. The progression reveals delicate white pepper and ginger, a developing subtle smokiness, and bright acidity, yet it consistently remains mild and very approachable. The consistency is pleasing and slightly velvety. Aftertaste: Moderate. The soft, sweet palate fades into a drier, herbaceous finish with hints of bitter orange and a touch of salt. A delightful and very accessible everyday pour, this would be an excellent choice for extended sipping. It shows its youth but isn't raw or underdeveloped; the interplay between spirit and cask influence is flawless. Some might fault it for being only 40% ABV and NAS, but those aren't concerns for me. It's a welcoming malt suitable for both newcomers and experienced drinkers, and I finished my measure without considering adding water. The packaging claims “smoky and bold.” This is inaccurate; I cannot fathom their reasoning for this labeling, perhaps due to its TRE release status targeting less experienced drinkers? Regardless, it creates a false impression. It should have been described as “light and gently smoky.” The smoke characteristic does, however, become more pronounced with subsequent sips. This is the initial dram in a lineup of six Highland Park whiskies I am sampling today. It has been some time since I last tried a whisky from this distillery, so it's time to correct that. Tasted from a 30ml sample, and I enjoyed it so much I just ordered a bottle. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

A special release from Highland Park, this one presented as a Bold and Smoky single malt, which is always a positive. The bottle's name, Spirit of the Bear, relates the tale of Viking bearskin-clad warriors whose spirits supposedly aided them in combat. Bottled at 40% ABV with an amber hue, it was matured in European casks filled with sherry. The aroma is quite inviting, very perfumed. It features aromatic peat, dry dark cake, and yeast, with a hint of prune acidity. The peaty scent seems young; allowing it to breathe will enhance its fragrance. A dehydrated fruit aroma emerges, quite intricate, clinging to the Glencairn glass. Moving the glass while smelling reveals a remarkable shift from peaty to acidic, then to fruity. After a second taste, the peat, which wasn't as potent or bold as advertised, had softened. Spearmint and abundant vanilla appeared. The palate is exceptionally easy to drink and very pleasing. Notes of green apple peel, vanilla, and prunes are present. After the initial sip, it transformed into a dessert-like experience with ample vanilla and hints of prune. The aftertaste is very agreeable. It offers a puff of smoke and pepper, quite balanced and lovely. With further sips, it develops a saltier, spicier character. Nice, but not intense. Overall, this doesn't match its label. It's not excessively peaty or bold. It is sweet and fruity with a pleasant hint of smoke, and I truly enjoyed it. I consider this a great everyday dram, not costly at all, but purchasers expecting extreme peatiness might be let down. I rate it a solid 85 out of 100 and would suggest it as a highly enjoyable, though not intensely smoky, dram.

Nose: The faintest hint of peat among all the Highland Parks I've tried. A light fruity note. White grapes, apple, lime. Taste: Chocolate, excessively oaked. Pepper. Otherwise, a rather uninspired experience. Finish: Dark chocolate and raw wood. Not a bad lightly peated whisky, but I expected more given the quality of the rest of the Highland Park core range.

Aroma: faint smoke, more brine, some citrus but also sweet, reminiscent of passion fruit cheesecake, quite pleasant Palate: zesty, notes of pepper and some ginger towards the end, less sweet than the aroma but the citrus flavors are more pronounced, nearing the finish you get a dark chocolate note, very agreeable

This seems a bit young, with a somewhat hollow taste. I suspect it would be more compelling with a higher proof. What was enjoyable is that the spirit doesn't feel that way, and there's a subtle smokiness in the aftertaste.