Highland Park 12 Year Old - Viking Honour Whisky

This HP 12-year-old "Viking Honor" is in no way whatsoever a faithful version of the previous standard Highland Park 12. Whereas the previous 12 year was spicy and full of character with interesting notes popping up during the experience , the "Viking Honor" 12 year lacks the complexity and is just missing those flavors that HP is known for. I'd go so far as to say it tastes young and rushed, and not at all fit for its 12 year age statement. If you'd given it to me blind, I would have not been at all surprised if you'd have told me it was some NAS bottling. I know demand is up and old stocks are dwindling, but please bring back the classic HP 12.

Ok but not brilliant, nose a bit strange, I'll get thru' it but not buy again.

Not bad is simply how I’d review this. For the price there are clearly much better single malts, but also this isn’t going to upset anyone either. It’s fine, basically.

For the price, this is not a bad whisky at all. You have to remember it's only 40% but in many shops it's well under £30 which isn't bad. It's got a pleasant taste and not complex by any means, which makes it a nice sipper as well as a good whisky for a newcomer.

Nose: Smells like good scotch. Not offensive at all.

Palate: Tasty. If there was a grilled orange lurking, it lurked well. I’ve never been to a granary, but I’ve eaten lots of toast. It didn’t taste like scotch, nor does this scotch taste like it.

Finish: Agree that it’s a bit spicy, but I tasted no wood products in any way. Not that I’ve ever eaten wood shavings, but I’ve smelled sawdust, and this does not taste like that smells.

Not a great malt thin lacking in flavour better with Black Bottle Smokey island or Arran barrel reserve to name a couple few pounds cheaper

Caramel notes and easy sipper

Decent introduction to the distillery

Not sure what some of the other reviews are on about, definitely not a blend, and definitely doesn't need ice

Have half a dozen HP expressions, from 12 Yo to 15 Yo Cask

Very good Malt for 30 Quid. Don’t much like the 10 Yo, tastes of Burbon to me.

18 Yo is better but 3 times the price ! “Chaps at Distillery tipped the “Airports” version of the 18 Yo at 46 ABV rather than the UK 18 @ 43.

Torn over stars 4 for certain, should it be 5 as only 30 Quid ?

I've refrained a long time from buying HP since I thought the package was too commercial (nah, that can't be good). But came at a shop where there was a very limited offer in drams, so decided, why not after all these years. I looked here at the reviews before opening the bottle. Looked at the bad ones as well.
The first glass was very shallow, very watery but the "after taste" was quite nice, indeed the peppery spicy experience. I am not enjoying my second glass (no ice, room temp, no water). It's quite nice, apricot to the palate, the very spicy longevity, with a taste of lemon/citrus. I wonder if it could be a 43% or even a 46% but it might become too sharp. But still, the watery connotation bothers me a bit. I give it an average. Might buy again, but most likely will pass.

Lovely nose shows promise, but just not deliver on taste mostly do to do with ABV. Would love to try a cask strength version, but this really should have been bottled at 46 not 40