One of the giants at Edrington, Gordon Motion, Highland Park's master whisky maker, retired after a long illustrious 27-year career. As the architect of shaping the Orkney distillery's signature smoke-and-sherry style, Motion also has a hand in expanding Highland Park's core and luxury ranges (which includes 21-, 30-, and 40-year-old expressions), and masterminded the House's oldest-ever 56-year-old bottling (we wrote about Highland Park's second oldest expression here).

For his final bow, Motion gives us Sherry Skies (ABV48.8%; 700ml), a limited-edition 19-Year-Old. Chosen by Motion, Sherry Skies is created from three American oak bourbon casks and six sherry-seasoned European oak quarter casks—the smaller cask sizes of the sherry give a potent sherry-seasoned flavour to the maturing whiskies, while the bourbon casks tame the tannins and add a balance and smoothness to them.

The packaging is inspired by the Orkney summer sunsets, and each bottle comes with a hand-signed personal note from Motion, that reflects on his tenure with Highland Park.

With a deep sherry influence that lifts notes of dried fruits and tannic spices. On the nose, you get a toasted oak and fragrant vanilla, which barrels down to a caramelised fruit, spice and citrus peel on the palate. For the finish, there are spicy notes of anise and cinnamon, before it settles onto a lingering hint of heathered peat smoke.

Only 1,200 bottles of Highland Park's Sherry Skies exist and is available purchase.