Highland Park Wings of the Eagle 16 Year

The final release in the TRE series, following Bear and Wolf, is Eagle. The marketing claims this bottling aims to honor the rugged, windswept Orkney Islands, stating, “Our waters are stormy, our winters are long and few trees can survive here… but that just makes for a more harmonious whisky”. Nose: A bright, summery aroma starts with immediate orange notes. Behind the juicy orange, there's a shortbread cookie flavor (suggesting buttery vanilla malt) followed by a surprisingly excellent pine needle/Christmas tree scent. This pine contributes a soft, light, floral, and herbaceous smoke – a signature Highland Park style. With time, the nose develops more depth, revealing a rich leatheriness and wood spice (perhaps allspice) that nicely complements the overall profile. Palate: The mouthfeel is creamy and full, featuring a warming, enveloping smokiness. The smoke intensifies but remains delicately floral, keeping it intriguing. A subtle briny minerality accompanies the smoke. Other flavors include honey, malt, barbecued charred peach, and a hint of vibrant orange. A blend of spices emerges, possibly pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Butterscotch-toffee notes hint at bourbon barrel influence. Finish: Long, creamy, and a bit nutty (like pecan), with a leathery and salted chocolate conclusion that competes with some wood spice for attention. Objectively, this 'Wings of the Eagle' stands out as the most complex, flavorful, deep, and impressive release from the TRE series. In contrast, the 14-year-old Wolf was quite disappointing, while the Bear offered an enjoyable, straightforward introduction. This Eagle feels like an unneeded addition to Highland Park's extensive lineup. To me, it resembles a less sherry-influenced, more bourbon-forward version of the 15-year-old Viking Heart, swapping some fruity/winey sweetness for more prominent toffee and leather notes. I might slightly prefer the 15-year-old due to its interesting bitter marmalade and cocoa elements. However, the 15 costs AUD $185 for 700ml, while the Eagle is AUD $175 for 1000ml. Perhaps the higher price of the 15 reflects the sherry cask and ceramic bottle, or superior stock. Regardless, this Eagle likely ranks between the 12 and 15-year-old in my estimation. Should you use your duty-free allowance on it? No, opt for the 12-year-old and a Woodford Double Oaked; you'll get two excellent drams for a similar price. [This whisky was pictured with a rhodolite-quartz-biotite schist rock, 1.6 to 0.93 billion years old, from southern Norway, part of a 30 km section of high-grade metamorphic rocks formed during a significant mountain-building event]. Price is for a 1000 ml bottle. Highland Park ranking: 10 Year Old: 3.75 12 Year Old: 4 15 Year Old: 4.25 18 Year Old: 4.75 25 Year Old: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25 Valkyrie: 4.25 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

Score: 17/23 Nose: Hmm, concerningly meaty alcohol notes. Beyond that, hints of sweet spice and oak emerge, reminiscent of a scotch finished in a new bourbon cask. Vanilla is present, followed by some dry grass and smoke. The aroma isn't exceptionally layered, and the meaty quality is somewhat unpleasant. Palate: More peppery than Highland Park 12! My first impression suggests an extra bourbon cask finish. Does "Wings of the Eagle" allude to American oak? Regardless, it certainly presents that way. I detect cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove, along with vanilla. It's a rich, full-bodied experience. An intriguing interplay exists between typical Highland Park depth and the characteristics of a young scotch finished in a fresh barrel, similar to Glenglassaugh. Alongside the spices, a deep, smoky, and slightly herbal peat character is noticeable. The familiar apricot sweetness of Highland Park is there, though less pronounced than in their standard expressions. Maritime notes are subtle and require searching. The spirit is smooth, with no harsh alcohol. The fresh cask finish likely masks some age. Despite the spice, this bottling is considerably smoother than Highland Park 12, almost velvety. Notably, the sulfurous note found in Highland Park 12 is absent here. Finish: Sweet, rich, and full. The bourbon cask influence dominates, but hints of Highland Park's signature smoke and sea air do come through. - Conclusion - I'm undecided if I prefer this profile over the standard Highland Park 12, but the absence of that sulfurous bite makes it far superior for me. It drinks as more mature and balanced than The Shin 10 (rated 15), though less complex. I lean towards this one winning due to its satisfactory complexity and effective execution of its core flavors. Its balance and complexity are comparable to Nikka From The Barrel, though this is slightly less refined but more engaging. Does it surpass Johnnie Walker Green (17)? Perhaps not. They are quite close. Johnnie Walker Green offers greater smoothness and a more understated complexity. This expression provides more character, spice, and warmth. It's a difficult choice. I'm considering a 16 or 17, with a slight chance it might even be an 18, possibly underrated against Johnnie Walker. I'll settle on a 17, as it felt very competitive with both Nikka From The Barrel and Johnnie Walker Green. However, Johnnie Walker Green is an excellent value. This costs approximately double, making it challenging to recommend unless you're seeking a mature-looking scotch with a fresh bourbon cask finish to complete your collection.

I sampled the 18-year-old Viking Pride and questioned if purchasing it was truly necessary when a version only two years younger could save you 30 Euros. This expression isn't Viking-themed but rather part of the animal series. As far as I recall, this is one of Highland Park's higher-proof bottlings, featuring an unusual 44.5% ABV, whereas the 18-year-old is only 43%. Nose: Delightful, with notes of fruit, red apples, and grapes. A mild, not intense, but characteristic peat. Milk and white chocolate, a touch briny, ripe pineapple, vanilla cookies, a hint of banana, and pleasant red currant on top. Palate: Very enjoyable and distinctly Highland Park. Salty, not as sweet as its older sibling, with some tart dried orchard fruits and marzipan. Finish: Also very good, quite dry, very oaky, with strong dry spices and some smoke. Prunes appear, but not sweet; rather, more acidic and a little fiery. Later, notes of ground coffee emerge. Afterward, the palate becomes richer and surprisingly oily sweet (the 18-year-old lacked this, as I remember), while the finish deepens further yet remains drier. In conclusion: The standard 18-year-old is slightly better and likely justifies the extra cost if you generally enjoy Highland Park. I can't be certain, but I suspect they used second or third-fill sherry casks, perhaps even ones previously used for the 18-year-old. Who knows. Alternatively, they might have spent less time in finishing casks or used larger ones. So, if you're just looking for an occasional Highland Park experience, this one certainly fits the bill. However, if you're a devoted fan, you might miss some of the intensity the 18-year-old offers. I still like it. I plan to revisit the 12-year-old soon to determine my permanent Highland Park selection for my shelf. (I remain very curious about the Triskelion and The Dark, but their price point is in another category. Still, I'm interested in comparing them.)

Nose: Sweet orange, vanilla, sherry, apricot, and a faint hint of smoke in the background. There are notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and honeysuckle, and as it sits and gains body, soft wood and leather notes emerge. A delightful Highland Park aroma with a fleeting smoke presence and a simple yet elegant character. Palate: A sweet and gentle arrival focused on honey-drizzled slices of grilled orange, apricot, and peach. It develops excellent spice notes as it evolves with sweeter and richer flavors appearing - caramel, grape jelly, red berry jam, and mild ginger pieces in syrup. The texture is buttery, slightly oily, and very pleasing. Finish: Medium/long. Warm and gradually shifting to a drier character with delicate oak, smoke, and salt notes. There is a subtle chocolate aftertaste that lingers. A smooth dram, very enjoyable to drink but lacking some complexity compared to the 15 year old from a few years ago (from the bottles before the Viking designs). The sherry influence is subdued here, while the bourbon cask influence is particularly noticeable. This has good body and texture, and its age is evident in the well-integrated profile. It has a sense of completeness and good balance, but I can't shake the feeling that overall it presents more like a 12 year old whisky than a 16 year old. This is the second of six Highland Parks I am tasting today, and compared to the “Spirit of the Bear” I tasted first, this has more depth and presence, but is otherwise surprisingly similar. It's certainly a better whisky, but is it worth paying 50% more? Let's just say I immediately bought a bottle of Spirit of the Bear, but as good as this is, I'm probably not ordering this one. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)

A new offering from this excellent distillery, this time a 16-year-old spirit marketed as "Gentle." I'm unsure about desiring "gentleness" in a Highland Park, a favorite peated whisky of mine. This particular one was aged in European sherry-seasoned oak and American white oak barrels. Bottled at 44.5% ABV, its color isn't as deep as one might anticipate for a 16-year-old. On the nose, I really enjoyed it. Quite intricate here. Orange, very floral, heather peat, perfumed moss, lemon tart, very smooth and light. Lemon cream meringue, tangerine, subtle sugar, earthy peat, and milk powder. A lot is happening here. On the palate, it falls short of the nose's promise, though it's not a bad whisky. Brown sugar, molasses; very light and mellow; peppery spice. Very fruity, like biting into fresh mango or a tropical fruit that's slightly past its prime. The aftertaste elevates the experience again, with ash, earthy peat, and bitter oranges. A long finish with a touch of saltiness. Overall, this appears slightly unbalanced, yet it remains a decent whisky. It could be improved, and for $106, better options are certainly available. 85 out of 100.

Aroma: Yes, this is definitely Highland Park. The signature sweet heather and orange fruit notes at the back, which I've come to expect from their 12-year standard, are present alongside barrel spice notes I can only compare to Glengoyne's bourbon barrel influence. In other words: Highland Park's rich middle notes get an extra high-note sparkle from this addition, which I assume comes from their 'sherry-seasoned' oak casks. The blend is harmonious, making this an intriguing HP dram. Palate: More of the same as the aroma. Heather sweetness evolves into an elegant barrel spice that again reminds me of Glengoyne's lemon pastry effect. A subtle smoke emerges, but only just. Finish: A puckering, drying sensation with notes of cocoa - as if I had just consumed cocoa powder. Delightful. For a travel retail exclusive, I'm quite fond of this one. The price is a bit steep ($105 USD from Dubai International Airport), but if you enjoy Highland Park and collecting, this is a good choice.