Highland Park Sigurd

I was curious about this premium Highland Park, which arrives in a stunning wooden container, and I finally tried it at an event I hosted. It was a complete letdown. Highland Park Sigurd recounts the legend of Sigurd "the Mighty," a formidable Viking chieftain who seized and governed Orkney and Scotland's northern regions until his demise after challenging Máel Brigte to a battle with forty men on each side. Deceitfully, Sigurd brought eighty men to the conflict. Máel Brigte was vanquished and decapitated. Sigurd attached the head to his saddle as a trophy, but as Sigurd rode, Máel Brigte's protruding tooth scratched his leg. The leg became infected, and Sigurd died from sepsis. Presented at 43% ABV, with a tawny hue. On the nose, everything was muted, hard to discern, and generally seemed to possess a lower profile. It lacks that characteristic heather-and-peat aroma of Highland Park; instead, there are notes of orange, a dusty scent, chocolate powder, cinnamon, cultivated earth, and smoke reminiscent of a freshly brewed coffee. After an initial taste and prolonged aeration, it revealed additional aromatic notes like vanilla, banana, Hawaiian tropical scent/coppertone tanning lotion; macadamia, nuttiness, oak, wood shavings, and sand. A phantom pineapple aroma seems to linger, but it's not truly distinct. On the palate, it is sweet and ordinary. Caramel, pepper, dulce de leche, and sulfur are present. The second taste felt a bit thin, with vanilla and cinnamon. It's pleasant, but very basic, and everything appears subdued. The finish was the redeeming quality of this dram. Sulfur, pepper; very metallic, akin to copper or the taste of blood from a paper cut, reminding me of licking an AA battery as a child. Earthy, salty, peaty. It has this ghostly pineapple surrounding everything. In summary, this was not what I anticipated. All the elaborate presentation for a very standard/ordinary whisky. It was predominantly bourbon-like rather than sherry-influenced, as indicated on the packaging. Utterly disappointing; one can acquire superior whiskies at this price point. It remains easy to drink, but it doesn't exhibit any Highland Park character. With that said, my rating is 84 out of 100, which isn't poor, but far from my expectations, with the enjoyable finish contributing significantly to the score.

I don't like retail operations which are clearly commercial, and I'm not a fan of expensive no-age-statement bottlings either, and this confirms it. The 18-year-old from Highland is much better...

This is rich, with complex flavors from sherry casks. I suspect some of the whisky is at least 16 years old, but younger components are present, preventing it from achieving the full body of HP age statement releases. Overall, a well-presented and very good bottle. 94

A complex flavor profile during consumption. The nose carries a subtle iodine scent. The finish is rich with roasted almond and honey.

This Highland Park has a gentler smoke than many, presenting a sweet and approachable character, much like a blend.

A smoky peat character.