Knappogue Castle 16 Year Old: Best Irish whiskey.Yamazaki 12 Year Old: Best Japanese whisky.Glenlivet 12 Year: Best whisky under $50.Highland Park 12 Year Old: Best whisky for the money.Buchanan’s 12 Year Scotch: Best blended whisky.Bowmore Islay: Best single malt Scotch whisky.Oban Distillers Edition Single Malt: Best sipping whisky.Johnnie Walker Blue Label: Best tasting whisky.Macallan 12 Year Double Cask: Best value whisky.Glenmorangie Signet: Overall best whisky.Instead we have to live with expressions like the Valkyrie which is not really bad but expensive and way too Young and Thin to be allowed to enter Odin's Hall of Fame. For instance Odin for their masterpiece and Thor for their strongest/peatiest Malt. If they would just make one great standard line-up of good whiskies of different age and maturation and link each of them to the Viking Legend that would really represent the character of the Whisky I would be their greatest fan.
#Highland park whisky series
It's such a pity that the distillery distorts this picture with the series of mediocre and expensive "Cult" Single Malts they have released over the last 10 years or so. Orkney is a special place and I understand the tradition and the bond with the Viking ancestors.
We visited Highland Park in May last year and I really enjoyed the visit despite the terrible weather. According to legend, Valkyries would plunge down from the skies on horse back to look for the bravest dead warriors in order to take them to Valhalla, the great hall of the Norse God Odin. The Valkyrie is made with 50% peated Malt.
The Viking Legend Series consists of the Valkyrie, the Valknut and the Valhalla, made in partnership with Danish designer Jim Lyngvild who was responsible for the bottle and box design. The core range basically consists of the 10 years (Viking Scars), the 12 years (Viking Honour), the 18 years (Viking Pride), the 25, 30 and 40 years. Highland Park currently produces around 2.5 million litres of Alcohol & is owned since 1997 by the Edrington Group. Orkney is still quite strongly influenced by its Viking past and the distillery has increasingly used this past as a rather successful marketing tool. It is located in the small town of Kirkwall on the isle of Orkney. The distillery was founded in 1798 by David Robertson. Nose: 21 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21 I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Heather-Honey, Grass and Straw, Cold Smoke and Dusty Earth, Ashes, Red Berries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricot, Citrus Peel, Cooked Apple, Cocoa Powder, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mint, Leather, Tobacco and Wood Shavings. The Alcohol is quite noticeable and even a little Hot at times. The high ABV and the increased amount of peated Malt can't hide the fact that we are talking about a Young Single Malt.
There are some distant hints of Floral Soap and a Butcher Shop.
Slightly Burnt Toast, Butterscotch, Toffee, Vanilla, Salted Butter, Cooked Apple, Mandarin, Toasted Pineapple, Candied Almonds, Cinnamon, Ginger, Pepper, Clove and Leather. Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Straw/Grass, Cold Smoke, Dusty Earth, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Red Berries, Citrus Peel, Milk Chocolate, Dried Herbs, Mint, Nutmeg and Tobacco. Not unpleasant but nothing special as well. Together with Dark Berries, light Spices and Straw they are the main components of the Nose. There's a bit of Sherry influence in the form of Dried Fruit. The Orkney Peat is there but stays nicely in the background. Don't let the seductive hype fool you!īuying Advice: 😐 It's okay but you're better of with the core range! Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Casks and American/European Sherry-Seasoned Oak
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