Highland Park Valkyrie

Last October, a dram of the Valknut was kindly shared with me, and I greatly appreciated that intense and complex serving. I was eager to try the first release in the ‘Val’ series, the Valkyrie, with only the Valfather remaining for me to sample. Mythology tells us Valkyries gathered the bravest warriors from the battlefield to escort them to Valhalla. Research indicates these three releases utilize a higher proportion of the distillery's floor-malted barley than the typical 20% floor-malted to 80% externally sourced barley. Other components appear standard for this distillery: American and European oak sherry casks, American oak ex-bourbon casks, and refill casks. Enough talk, let's get to the tasting. Nose: Gentle and welcoming with a subtle maritime character. Chocolate is the first distinct note I detect, followed by honey and apricot. The distillery's signature floral smoke emerges and melds, creating a lovely, balanced profile. With more time, some sherry influence appears, and the smoke intensifies pleasantly, developing an ashy quality. Even later, I find some wood spice, though it required effort to locate; it was worthwhile, presenting as freshly waxed and polished oak. Palate: Thick, full, and immediately rich with ashy smoke. Beneath the dense smoke, initial wood spice gives way to chocolate and toffee, with a gingery tingle leading to peppery notes. As the smoke builds, the ashy character recedes, allowing some fruity sweetness to emerge: dried apple rings, plum, and perhaps a hint of bitter orange or marmalade? With subsequent sips, a fudgy, creamy texture takes over. Imagine smoke-flavored chocolate marmalade fudge – that's what this is. They should produce it and give me a share. Finish: Medium-short. A creamy texture with warming pepper, chocolate, wood spice, and the persistent presence of smoke. Do my experiences with this distillery's tastings feel repetitive? Perhaps I've met my end on the battlefield of drams and been taken by a Valkyrie. Or, maybe I'm simply recognizing the consistent excellence in their highly regarded offerings. The smoke in Valkyrie is more pronounced but feels distinct from the standard age statement smoke. Here, it feels heavy and ashy. In the core age range, the 18-year-old culminates in floral, light, and delicate notes – where I believe this distillery truly excels. Despite the heavy, ashy smoke in Valkyrie, it's not overwhelming. The entire drink is well-balanced by the fruity and woody/winey notes. I'm content. I would be even more so if a Valkyrie could escort me to the Valfather now! [Displayed here with another Viking-themed geological specimen, a 440-400 million-year-old dunite from Åheim, Norway. This green mass is almost pure olivine and represents the upper mantle after basalt extraction] HP Ranking (primarily for personal reference): 10: 3.75 12: 4 15: 4.25 18: 4.75 25: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25 Valkyrie: 4.25

Following my HP Valknut review, here's my take on its predecessor, the Valkyrie. My time with the Valknut was peculiar. I loved it initially upon opening. I disliked it during my first review, though I was unwell. After re-reviewing, I found it to be above average. Quite intriguing. Now, for entry #1 in what I'm calling the "Valk series." My experience with them has been much more consistent. I have no idea how much of this bottle I've consumed due to its opaque black container, but based on its weight, I'd estimate I'm about halfway through. Nose: It presents creamy custard and sherry notes reminiscent of cranberry, orange, raisin, fig, date, and apricot. There's caramel and vanilla, with a trace of sulfur. Some toffee and a hint of sea salt are present. Smoke and peat are subdued, though a subtle maritime character is detected. Palate: A significant presence of sulfur, cranberry, apricot, and orange. Toffee, caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate are also noticeable. Once again, a slight hint of sea salt. Peat is in the background. The distillery claims this has a higher ppm than average, and while I detect a bit, I would have guessed the opposite. Instead, I perceive a blend of dry red fruit, citrus, and a touch of dessert sweetness. A hint of cinnamon and baking spice adds warmth. Finish: A faint touch of smoke is followed by some dry fruit and milk chocolate. Cinnamon and pepper dominate the duration of a short-to-moderate finish. *I'm revisiting this roughly six months later. The bottle is nearing its end. The tasting notes remain similar, but the finish has significantly increased in length. It now includes notes of orange, apricot, and peach. The finish is moderate to long. The flavors are much more pronounced and impactful, in a positive way. Overall, I consider it a respectable NAS Scotch. Is it worth $80? Hmm, not really. However, it's well-balanced and quite engaging. The distillery took a straightforward approach with this release, unlike the daring and somewhat unpredictable Valknut. While this one left less of an impression than the latter, I appreciate its consistency. I believe the two expressions are ultimately equivalent, for entirely different reasons. I plan to purchase the Valkfather for comparison. The "Valk Series" is not exceptional by any means, but I find it captivating for some reason. This isn't exactly a rave review, I acknowledge. But there are many positive aspects to it. The distillery often faces criticism for its Viking theme and the abundance of mediocre NAS products. This particular offering does not belong to that category. This spirit was challenging to review. I might need to revisit it. Final assessment? My score aligns perfectly with the average user rating of 3.75. It's good, but not great. I'm pleased we share a similar opinion on this one. *I've raised my rating to 4.0 approximately six months later, due to the improvement in the finish. The nose is strong, the palate is slightly less so, and the finish returns with considerable force.

The smoky, briny nose gives this drink a masculine aura. Taking a sip reveals substantial depth, with tobacco and brine battling the sweetness of grog. While they eventually prevail, the purity of vanilla is briefly present before the tobacco dominates. The complexity of this scotch is wonderful. It has a rich flavor with an underlying toffee sweetness that suggests a benevolent force overseeing the conflict. Don't underestimate this scotch. It typically adds something interesting and refreshing to a gathering. It's a bit unusual and could have more depth, but it's a great Scotch. I especially appreciate that, despite its spring-like flavor, one can drink another non-peat-based liquor afterward. Most of its quality stems from its unique blend of smoke, peat, salt, brine, and sweetness, but the fact that all these flavors are distinct and harmonious makes it a great success. More variation throughout its consumption would be welcome, but this is a fantastic drink. Compared to an Islay Scotch, it offers a creamy toffee sweetness with smoky richness and some salty sea spray, making a significant and distinctive impression. It's somewhat akin to Springbank 10 (emphasis on "somewhat") but with a sweeter body and finish, bolder flavors, and slightly less complexity. I truly enjoy it. It smells smoky and fruity with a pleasant, balanced sweetness. While drinking, the smoke and fruit emerge with minerals and plenty of vanilla and floral notes that almost taste like unpleasant bread. There's peat, but the smoke is excellent with its chocolatey flavor. There's some spicy harshness that unfortunately blends a bit with the alcohol. This is rich and tasty. While it needs some refinement, it's very good whiskey that reminds me of Highland Park The Dark at a much lower price, though with less balance and more playfulness. The harshness and tartness eventually become somewhat overpowering, however. It lacks the nectar quality of Highland Park 18, but is still great.

Aroma of Oloroso sherry, sea brine, fresh hay, demerara sugar, cardamom, cumin, ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, and mint. A hidden smoky note is initially masked by a strong alcohol presence, which quickly fades to a sweet, spicy aroma. The characteristic orange notes of Highland Park are absent. Adding water reveals more herbal scents. Taste presents a spicy, salty arrival with prominent ginger and pepper notes. Saltwater taffy, marmalade, and currants develop. The texture is full, slightly drying, yet oily. Smoke notes emerge early and are quite noticeable. Dilution softens the palate, enhancing vegetal and herbal notes, and uncovering hidden orange liqueur flavors. Water also adjusts the texture and character, making the whisky creamier and sweeter. Finish is medium to long, with herbal, smoky, woody, and spicy characteristics, along with soft tannins. Water makes the finish milder and sweeter. This substantial whisky concludes our tasting of six Highland Parks. However, it was the least impressive for me. While it is a bold whisky, I found it sacrificed the typical nuance and juicy fruitiness of the other expressions for rather common spice notes, making its profile seem simplistic and lesser. This was the only whisky of the day that I felt needed water, and I believe dilution significantly improved it. It is certainly not a bad whisky; in fact, it's good, but it doesn't suit my preferences, and I wouldn't purchase a bottle. I also found the official tasting notes quite peculiar and very different from my own experience (for whatever that's worth). Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Nose: The familiar Highland Park character shows up with abundant sweet red apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, and just a hint of cardamom. Deeper notes reveal custard and angel's food cake. A subtle presence of smoke and ash is detected, though the ash strikes me as slightly discordant. Palate: An intense flavor experience with red apples and raisins, accompanied by a potent spicy kick from ample cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and general oak spice. The spices are significantly more pronounced than the aroma suggested. The custard and angel's food cake notes persist, with egg-like nuances more apparent than on the nose. A touch of saltiness is present. Once more, smoke and ash appear, and I'm still not fond of the ash. Mouthfeel: Possesses a medium body with a degree of oiliness, offering no surprises. Finish: Features smoke, spice, vanilla custard, mild chocolate, and a hint of salt. It lasts longer than anticipated and might be the finest aspect of this drink. Overall: This is a very pleasant whisky, balancing fruitiness and smoke. The influence of older whiskies in this "mix" provides considerable oak spice, while younger components add a sharper edge. It's a robust spirit that seems stronger than its stated proof. Nevertheless, the ash proves somewhat distracting, and without it, my rating would be higher.

This is seriously one of the most captivating spirits I've ever had. It might not be the absolute top-tier whisky, but it's incredible. This bottling comes in at 45.9% alcohol with a rich golden hue. You know how I've mentioned Highland Park excels at bottle marketing? This one is no different. The designation "Valkyrie" is drawn from Norse mythology, referring to figures who select the most valiant fallen warriors to join them in the afterlife, Valhalla. Pretty cool, right? Anyway, this spirit is a real clash on the palate. The aroma is absolutely stunning, boasting a massive peat presence, reminiscent of a campfire or barbecue, with notes of grilled meat, some balsamic oil, and sea salt. Truly remarkable. It coats the mouth with a rich, oily texture. I suspect it's a younger spirit, but the taste is potent. A generous amount of spice: pepper, licorice, a hint of bitterness, ash, dense salt crystals, and a full mouthfeel. The finish lingers extensively, creating a warming sensation, with echoes of ash, a bonfire, and gunpowder. Simply outstanding. My overall assessment is a 99 out of 100. The slight deduction is due to the lingering warmth in the finish, a clear indicator of its youth. I'm curious how it would develop with additional aging. Fantastic. Cheers!