Kirkwall Bay Orkney Single Malt

I'm behind on my sample reviews, so I'm trying to catch up. This is a blind sample which is always more fun since my preconceptions and biases are taken out of the equation. This sample comes to me courtesy of @Nozinan and it was poured May 29/2019, while the bottle opened May 18, 2019.

Tasting Notes

Neat from a Highland Whisky Glass

• The colour is very pale. Interesting
• Nose: apple juice, honey, a bit of oak, graham crackers, cinnamon, with time there are mild aromas of strawberries and cream
• Palate: light bodied, yet a bit of a sharp arrival on the palate, honey, a bit of oak, milk chocolate, almonds, vanilla frosting
• Finish: very light, medium length, a touch of orange zest, oak, perhaps a hint of dried herbs (marjoram?)
• Thoughts: This is a mild whisky; it's a little on the subtle side. The nose is the most interesting part. The palate and finish don't quite deliver, but there's nothing off or wrong here. I'm guessing this is a malt whisky, possibly a vatted malt. There doesn't seem to be a ton of different stuff going on. I feel like this is a younger whisky (6 to 8 years) that was mostly aged in ex-bourbon casks. I can't decide if this is bottled at 43%-46% or if it's a bit of a hot 40%.
• Reveal: Kirkwall Bay Orkney Single Malt, 46% abv. This is rumoured to be Highland Park, but I'm not getting any peat whatsoever. Perhaps HP makes some unpeated whisky, or perhaps I'm just not picking up the coastal, peaty funk tonight. Such are the perils of judging a whisky based off a single sample. Based on this tasting alone, I'm not likely to purchase a bottle. It sells for $90 at the LCBO and that's a big price tag to see if I'd like a whole bottle more than a one-off sample.

Thanks again to @Nozinan for his generosity.