Highland Park Valfather

Following a series exploring the main Highland Park expressions, which commenced in October 2022 with a dram of Valknut shared by a friend, anticipation grew for the first release in the ‘Val’ series, Valkyrie. Despite tasting fifteen other Highland Parks, the Valfather remained elusive until a friend provided a fantastic selection of samples, including Valfather. A representative from marketing shared that Valfather draws inspiration from Odin, the Norse god of wisdom, sorcery, poetry, death, wolves, and ravens, noted for his complexity. The whisky aims to mirror this intricacy. Having won Gold at the 2020 World Whisky Awards, Valfather is highlighted as their most peated expression to date, signifying Odin’s power. It is matured exclusively in their finest refill casks, intended to balance the peat with subtle flavor layers and character, evoking the light feel of Valhalla. The series' packaging was designed by a renowned Danish artist and designer, whose lineage traces back to the first Earl of the Orkney Islands. Regardless of ancient ancestry claims, the question arises: will this be a heavily smoky, ashy liquid like Valkyrie, or possess the signature heather florals of the standard age statements? Let's discover... Nose: A faint ethanol sharpness is present but gives way to a rich pear aroma with phenolic notes. There are hints of slightly sour green cooking apples and a wonderfully thick floral smoke. A subtle undercurrent of vanilla and nutmeg spice emerges as the ethanol dissipates, and the smoke becomes ashier over time. Unfortunately, a raw spirit tang persists. Palate: A bold and strong initial impact of tingling, slightly sulphurous embers, a metallic hint, and pepper, accompanied by a prominent juicy apple note. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin for such a powerful opening. Beneath the initial harshness lie notes of vanilla cream, brown sugar, beautiful floral-perfumed heathers, and cedar. There's a suggestion of citrus-spritzed marzipan, and a smoky, salty note appears at the finish. Finish: Medium in length. Florals are prominent, but black pepper dominates with an overly warm sensation. A slight metallic tinge returns, along with some juicy sweetness. Wow. This experience was quite a journey. The peat level is definitely elevated, but instead of the dark, ashy character expected, it delivered what I consider the most intensely floral-perfumed whisky I've ever encountered. I'm a great admirer of Highland Park's floral notes. However, there are two aspects I strongly dislike in whisky: sulphurous tones and the character of Loch Lomond. It seems some younger, less refined Highland Park may have been included, manifesting as raw ethanol on the nose and sulphurous-metallic notes on the palate. These detractions are significant enough to detract from an otherwise evolving and complex dram. While my score may not fully reflect these negative points, Valfather ranks below the other two releases in the series. My appreciation for the floral notes prevents a lower score. It's a highly enjoyable and challenging whisky that completes an excellent trio from Highland Park. My gratitude once more to a friend. Cheers! [This whiskey is pictured with a Mylonite rock from Lom, Norway, showcasing geological history and rock formation processes.] HP Running ranking: 10: 3.75 12: 4 15: 4.25 18: 4.75 25: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25 Valkyrie: 4.25 Valfather: 4 Dragon Legend: 3.25 Voyage of the Raven: 3.5 Spirit of the Bear: 3.25 Loyalty of the Wolf: 2.75 Wings of the Eagle: 4 The Light: 4.25 The Dark: 5 Mjolner: 4.5

Nose: Acacia flowers, pears cooked in sweet wine, a faint burning grass smell, cold fireplace embers, thyme, sage, seaweed, vanilla, a touch of lemon. The casks are barely perceptible, and the aroma has good depth – it's earthy, herbal, and the peat smoke intensifies with further sniffing. Adding water lessens the aroma's strength but doesn't alter its character. I believe it's merely reducing an alcohol presence. Palate: A sweet-and-sour, firm, and rich initial taste of spice (pepper), green fruit, citrus, peat smoke, and oak. The progression is limited, thin, and doesn't reveal much more, but it does enhance the initial impression. The texture is oily yet surprisingly light. Some strong, intense notes are present and overpowering, but they don't add much. There are also fainter nuances, but I suspect they are all just aspects of peat smoke. Water has an unusual effect (see below). Finish: Moderate. Green apple, raisins, sooty mineral, and a nearly metallic smoke. A dry finish. This is supposedly very peated, but it's not immediately obvious. It gradually becomes apparent with continued smelling and tasting, and there's more peat smoke than one first perceives. However, this is a double-edged sword because, to my taste, it's essentially a single-dimensional whisky focused on peat. The flavor profile is quite straightforward – grassy, peaty, herbal, with the characteristic Highland Park honey notes present, but somewhat muted and overshadowed while remaining sharp. It's akin to an ash tray and a bottle of vodka accidentally spilled into a honey jar. The aroma was by far the most appealing aspect for me. The taste is loud and bold, and it transforms interestingly with a little dilution. I anticipated it would become sweeter and the spices milder, but instead, the smoky ash intensified and dominated everything else. Overall, this acts like a very young spirit. When first opened, it was harsh and rough, with everything being overpowering. Time and air have softened the profile, but this has only highlighted its shortcomings. It's a decent Highland Park, but nowhere near my top choice. The standard 10-year-old is nearly half the price, and I would prefer two bottles of that any day. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars) ----------------------------------------------------- Rating Revised March 14, 2023 I've nearly finished this bottle, and it has improved since reaching the halfway mark, with oxidation softening the tannins and moderating the intensity. It's not nearly as potent as it was initially, and a leathery quality has emerged. The honey notes typical of Highland Park have become more pronounced, and with just a splash of water, it's now a very enjoyable drink that seems less aggressive and youthful than before. Still not quite 4 stars for me, but only missing that mark by a single percentage point. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

I typically award high marks to whiskies. Reading that this bottle, from a favored distillery, earned a Gold at the 2020 World Whiskies Awards, I anticipated a superb dram, but I was completely let down. Highland Park Valfather is part of the "Val" collection, which includes Valkyrie and Valknut. This particular expression honors Odin, the chief Nordic deity. It's intended to be the peatiest HP and a superior whisky. Let's examine the tasting notes before I give you my final thoughts. Presented at 47% alcohol by volume, it has a burnished gold hue. On the nose, it's quite pleasant and peaty, very aromatic but not exceptionally so. Initial perceptions are of grassy, hay-like, and earthy peat. Subsequently, a chocolate brownie aroma emerges. It's very fresh, reminiscent of mint; floral, and feels "airy." A second taste revealed smoky notes and a very zesty lemon. On the palate, it only presents two notes. What a pity. Vanilla and Hay. That's all. Very sweet, smooth, easily drinkable, but lacking any depth. Quite uncomplicated. The finish elevates this whisky, with wisps of smoke and peppery spice. Ginger and ashy notes are also detected. In summary, this is not a memorable dram, nor a gold medal contender, at least in my assessment. Nothing objectionable about it, and in fact, it's rather easy to drink, but it lacks soul and complexity. I've awarded it a very generous 76 out of 100.

Aroma – Stewed apples/pears, tea, peat smoke, heather, brininess. Palate – Oakiness, mild dark chocolate, basil, molasses, caramel, more peat smoke… Finish – Lime, ashy qualities, black pepper – falls short and fades quickly – too brief. Water – Aroma changes – Citrus notes, bright florals, mint. Palate – Dullness sets in – peat/oak are tamed but little else changes…same with Finish…. Peat level (12/15) (30 for Valkyrie), 35-40ppm is pleasant, but not comparable to Islay… Slightly above average, around 3.75 out of 5. Feels young…$70.

★★★★ It's quite close to Dark Origin! It's been years since I last tasted Dark Origin, an exceptional whisky that is no longer produced. I had sincerely hoped this latest version of the Viking Legend trilogy would fill the void left by its predecessor. It comes very close, but it's slightly lacking. Whether I'll rush to buy a bottle will depend on the selling price.

To be honest, I didn't get it at all. It's too harsh, even for the stated alcohol content, and once it mellowed out, there was only oak - dry, raw, and woody, not a hint of oak's secondary characteristics with the alcohols. Among the clearly identifiable notes, there were only lemon and orange zest with small pieces of pulp.