Valkyrie is the first in Highland Park's Viking Legend series in partnership with Danish designer Jim Lyngvild who can trace his lineage back to Viking times. It's made with approximately 50% fully peated stock (Highland Park's peated floor malt is usually mixed with unpeated malt that's bought in at a ratio of 1:4 before mashing), but of course with Highland Park this means Orcadian peat and classic heather smoke notes.
This edition offers a smokier Highland Park experience, but the smoke is still balanced. Highland Park Valkyrie received a score of 99 Points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, making it an "Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation".
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Chocolate and some nutmeg off the bat before the smoke develops, balanced by dried apricot, plum and, increasingly, zesty orange too.
Plump dried fruits are complimented by vanilla, dried apple and waves of smoke and wood spice.
Liquorice and more fruit too, plus a return of some chocolatey notes.
More pronounced smoke than you’d find in a regular Highland Park, as you'd expected, but it never threatens to dominate proceedings – this is no chimney of a dram, far from it. The smoke is always balanced.
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Quite underwhelmed with this, appears young but not priced for a young whisky, take my advice and spend your money on the HP 12 or splash out on the HP 18 but give this a miss.
Just finished my 3rd glass of this exceptional whiskey, I felt compelled to write a review! This is a lovely drink, I taste vanilla & fruit, almost honey on the throat and what a kick, I love this whisky! I'm closing my eyes as she trickles down, I get scorched pear with an amber oriental kung fu kick to the throat,... Fantastic !!. I cant wait for the next one. I'll just have to get through a few more bottles until then!!, Highland Park Bring it on!, I'm not sure how you could top this Beautiful Dram at this price!
Mmm not sure about this one. To me the balance is all wrong and it is lacking the HP identity. It tastes quite young and maybe age is part of the problem. Yes the packaging is quite impressive but surely it is the whisky that matters most! I love Highland Park and regularly have a dram. I favour the 18 and 21 year old which I rate as some of the best in the world. Anyway I've a whole bottle to taste and chunter over with fellow whisky fans over the next year or so. Never know I might grow to like it!
I was lucky enough to try this a couple of weeks ago. It does not disappoint. Well balanced and spicy sweet, with the Orkney peat taking front and centre on the lingering finish.
