Motion has served as the creative force behind the Orkney distillery for 16 years, helping it to grow into one of Scotland’s most recognizable single malts.
As well as establishing Highland Park’s multi-award-winning core range, Motion also released over 90 limited expressions – Sherry Skies will be his final one. For this last hurrah, Motion picked out some of the most flavorful casks in his armory.
The 19-year-old whisky consists of just nine casks, resulting in 1,200 bottles. Motion used three European oak ex-sherry quarter casks, three American oak ex-sherry quarter casks and three first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. Quarter casks are, as the name suggests, a quarter of the size of normal oak barrels. That leads to increased contact between the liquid and the wood, allowing it to impart more flavor in a shorter time.
Nineteen years is at the upper limit of what a whisky can withstand in this type of cask, depending on the type of sherry influence. The first-fill ex-bourbon casks bring a heavy dose of sweetness (tropical fruits, coconut, caramel) to the table, creating an intensely flavorful whisky if balanced correctly. And, of course, it is balanced correctly. The whisky offers Highland Park’s coastal style at its best, layered with rich, juicy depth.
It’s a fitting finale for Motion, who built his reputation on balancing Highland Park’s maritime power with the elegance of sherry-seasoned oak casks. With the distillery owned by Edrington, which also counts The Macallan and The Glenrothes in its portfolio, quality sherry casks are not hard to come by.
On the whisky, Motion said: “I’ve sampled hundreds of thousands of casks during my 27-year career, and the nine selected for Sherry Skies deliver a unique depth of flavor – singing with the sherry sweetness that I have loved exploring and perfecting, balanced with the subtle hint of aromatic smoke of our Orkney heathered peat. I hope this farewell dram will give people as much joy savouring it, as I had creating it.”
Highland Park Sherry Skies – Tasting Notes
Nose: A complex sweetness with a mix of maple syrup and raisins mixed with toasted oak and a hint of poached pear. The peat smoke sits gently in the background with touches of minerality revealing its proximity to the coast. Plenty of punch on the nose as well with cinnamon spice and cloves.
Palate: The sherry influence and the peat are far more forward with dried fruit and oaky influences leading the way, followed by a hit of peat. The American oak influences are more in the texture – a silky smooth liquid, almost creamy, before those notes of vanilla and caramel come through.
Finish: Freshly cracked walnuts and toasted oak with a pleasant hint of spice.
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Rating: 88/100
Highland Park Sherry Skies is available at the distillery or via highlandpark.com, priced £265 ($355)