Community Tasting Note

• deBare Likes this wine: 90 points

  June 19, 2021 - Spirit of the Bear is one of a trio of duty-free Highland Park exclusives you could pick up while travelling in 2018. A number of distilleries use this same marketing strategy - which probably made sense pre-CoVid - but seems short-sighted when no one was flying or crossing borders.
  All that said, I'm glad I was able to pick up a bottle at the Vancouver International Airport. Part of the attraction is the gorgeous designs of the bottles and their packaging. Highland Park definitely puts some effort into the aesthetics of their marketing - creating tributes to the Vikings who ruled over Scotland some 600 years ago. Warriors would wrap themselves in bearskins before a battle to inspire them to fight with resilience and strength.
  The Scotch itself uses a higher proportion of Orkney peated-malt that ages in a combination of first-fill sherry seasoned European and American oak casks. The smouldering peat bricks infuse the single mail with rich smokiness as the barrels add additional notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, and orange zest.
  This is an enjoyable light nightcap after dinner - though hopefully, it doesn't inspire you to go out and act like a Viking warrior. However, if you like lighter Scotches and happen to be back in a duty-free shop, you might want to buy a bottle. I'll be looking for my next one when I get a chance.
  Cheers. 🥃

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