Highland Park Harald

Some time ago, Highland Park introduced their Warrior Series, a collection of travel retail exclusive single malts. There were six in total, each named after a prominent Viking warrior or leader. Four of these were priced quite reasonably, while the other two were considerably more expensive. I previously reviewed the second one, Einar, and found it quite good, which led me to purchase the third, Harald. Each member of the series utilizes a distinct ratio of American and European oak, as well as first-fill and refill casks. This particular bottling is composed of 50/50 first-fill/refill casks and approximately 50/50 American/European oak. It is bottled at 40% ABV, is chill-filtered, and displays a natural golden color. Initially, the first few pours from the bottle offered a rather uninspired aroma, with little complexity. There were faint traces of lemon, honey, and creamy vanilla, accompanied by a light peat smoke, sawdust, and cigarette ash. However, after the bottle had some time to oxidize, the character significantly improved. Notes of sherry, toffee, caramel, and some pecans emerged. Orchard fruits like peaches, apples, and pears were present. At times, cherry blossoms and sandalwood provided a Japanese-like quality. A surprising development was an eruption of berry flavors, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. This was followed by chocolate and abundant fudge. Hazelnut, walnuts, and more caramel appeared, with a subtle hint of coffee. Occasionally grassy notes surfaced. The profile kept shifting, making it difficult to ascertain the intended character of this whisky. Nevertheless, it was mostly enjoyable. The palate underwent similar transformations. Initially, it was quite light, featuring vanilla and lemon citrus, with a dry, sooty peat and a slightly tannic quality. With sufficient time and air exposure in the bottle, it became much more refined. It developed a pronounced fruitiness with pineapple, mango, papaya, apricots, and apples. Malty notes, barley sugar, ginger, and clove were detected. Puffs of smoke, fudge, dried strawberries, and honey were also present. The mouthfeel was light-bodied, somewhat thin yet creamy and slightly dry. The finish was of medium length, exhibiting tannic, light sherry, nutty notes, strawberries, apple skins, and a dry character. I must admit that at first, this was a rather poor representation of a Highland Park. It lacked significant character, and if I had to rate it then, it would have received a 2.5. Once the bottle gained some air, I was astonished by the changes. One day it presented immense fruity notes, another day it was fudgy. It ultimately proved to be a rather decent malt. The price was not excessive, at $60 for 700mL (Einar, I believe, was $45 for 1L and superior in quality). Despite this, I mostly appreciated this one and will assign it a score of 3.5. Cheers

This is the third NAS release from Highland Park's Warrior Series: Harald. This was a 6-bottle collection released in 2018, leaning into HP's Viking heritage and marketing. It was aged in European and American oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV. I believe retail prices are around $80. This was straw gold and very watery. Numerous medium-sized drops and legs circled the Glencairn after a vigorous swirl. The nose first hit me with lots of butterscotch and vanilla. It took some time before I detected some light smoke, oak, and sherry. It was very closed off for a long time - I almost gave up and just drank it. You wouldn't expect an NAS to need over 30 minutes to open up, but this required that and more. Strange. The palate delivered much more smoke than the nose indicated, followed by ripe berries and faint florals. Some black pepper and ginger introduced the finish and really gave this one some punch. It was somewhat mouthwatering and oily, allowing the softer flavors to linger a bit - which was a nice surprise once the spicy notes faded. I can only imagine how a slight increase in ABV would have amplified things. 40% is just playing it safe and stretching the product, especially here. The finish was medium-to-long and warming. Those softer flavors continued until they were washed away. Very nice for an NAS whisky. Thanks to my buddy Paul for sending me a sample, and I think this one was much better than the Einar bottle, though not as good a value. This one comes in just under 4 stars because I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. Cheers, my friends.

I found this at the duty-free in Honduras. As a big fan of Highland Park, I decided to try it. The bottle is nearly empty, and I hadn't reviewed it yet because I struggled to pinpoint my enjoyment level. Here's my take. Nose: Sweet, with vanilla, some ginger, and lemon appearing at the end. Palate: Initially, a strong crystal sugar sweetness hits. Lemongrass follows, almost. After a few seconds in the mouth, some bitterness from the wood emerges. Finish: The signature gentle smoke is upfront. The finish then fades rather quickly, leaving behind some wood bitterness, but not much. Overall, it's average. The flavors are suitable for a warm summer day, but the price led me to expect more. They claim about half the whiskies are sherry-aged, but I didn't detect anything typical of sherry wood aging. I also think a higher ABV would benefit it, especially on the finish. I'd choose the 12yo every time, as it's half the price and, in my opinion, the better product. Cheers!

Highland Park Harald is one of six expressions in the Warrior series. The person who offered me a sample at the airport mentioned it was one of the smokier options. I can't confirm or deny that until I've sampled more from the series, but it certainly has a noticeable, yet balanced, smoke. The aroma is subtle with distinct berry notes. The distillery suggests strawberries, and I can agree it's fruity. Quite pleasant. On the palate, the fruits persist, feeling round with just a touch of Sherry that adds a dash of tannins, providing a dry introduction to the finish. The finish offers some gentle peat smoke, concluding with mild floral notes rather than perfumed ones. The warmth is present but not overwhelming. This is a no-age-statement dram at 40% ABV. It will be interesting to compare it to other Highland Parks, like the 18yo or Viking Pride (46% ABV).

Not what I had anticipated; a respectable Highland Park bottling, subtle on the nose and pleasant on the palate, but not extraordinary. Carrying a 40% ABV and presenting a deep copper hue. The aroma is quite faint and uninviting, featuring a distinct tobacco note alongside other subdued hints of caramel and the characteristic peat from Highland Park. The taste is considerably better, beginning with caramel before shifting to that familiar tobacco and dry brown grass profile of Highland Park, with notes of oranges and a mild, bitter oakiness. It concludes with a smoky, ashy, and salty finish that lingers for a moderate duration. My overall assessment of this dram is 82 out of 100. Cheers!

Clear flavor, subtle aroma, silky body. Fruity and Spicy! Figs and Nutmeg perhaps