Highland Park 18 Year Viking Pride

NOSE: very light peat embedded nicely in plums, light cinnamon and cloves, fresh apple, a bid of orange and hard nuts ... really amazing character that welcomes you and impressively shows you a uniqueness Highland Park is able to deliver PALATE: mild and gentle in the beginning but it intensifies fast, wood aromas but not really oaky, light bitterness, not overwhelming and still very round, some burned brown sugar aroma ... it is very likable but the bitterness and lack of sweetness might be unpleasant for some FINISH: mildly bitter, leaves a light burn on the tongue, stays quiet long with mature wooden aroma and very light peat The smell is definitely the best aspect this whisky has to offer. The 18 years really suits it. Its very light peat gives it some volume but I miss the sweetness in the taste that you are getting from the nose. After smelling it you walk into tasting it with higher expectations which aren’t fully met. But in the end it somehow leaves a different yet still great impression. I think this will be a nice whisky to return to frequently. P.S. don’t add water. Completely destroys it.

Viking wizards used to combine white chocolate-covered maraschino cherries, a stick of cinnamon, a rose petal, one red grape, ash from one cigar, and mix it in a mortar and pestle of oak and cedar. The concoction was said to make the soul as strong as stone.

Nice and flavorful and smooth. Some smoke at the end.

Smooth, slightly smoky, but rich Scotch. One of my very favorites.