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".
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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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A bit aggressive at first, but with a few drops of water it really opens. Very nice after a few sips. Less smoky than Voyage Of Raven. I'd rather buy this one instead of Raven.
Based on a sample, not a winner. Tastes very young, compared to for example the 12yo or Dark Origins, and tries to fix that with a stronger peat note. The result is an oddly greasy whisky on the nose for a HP, with a flat body and lacking finish. Stick with the age stated ones. Speaking of Dark Origins, this feels like a baby version of it. I wasn't a big fan of DO, but rather a glass of that than a bottle of this.
Has a lot in common with the 20yo Cadenhead bourbon cask released a while ago. All about the malt. Really good.
An amazing whisky for the price, like Hubba Bubba with an added peatiness. My favourite whisky so far!
Really happy with the purchase. Bottle came very well packed. Same the box was crushed in to fit and is damaged.
