Highland Park 18 Year Viking Pride

Rating: 19*/23 Bottle kill tasting here. Only a few ml left, so this isn't going to be much of a tasting. I'm giving it an asterisk because of the tremendous amount of oxygen that this bottle received. N: Smoke, peat, apricot, some mild vanilla, a hint of coconut. Faint sulphur, but it's OK. I'm having trouble picking a ton out here, but it's a very balanced and enjoyable nose. P: Super smooth and approachable. Smoke, glacé apricot, wood spices (cinnamon, light clove, ginger). A bit of peat rolls in with some minerality that is a little salty and maybe even a hint briny. This is a complex and deep palate, though it tastes a bit weak. The balance is immaculate. Possibly a touch of coconut, but I might be imagining that. I feel like I should be getting some vanilla in here somewhere. F: A tad watery with some lingering burn from the spice. Maybe there's some coconut in the wateriness? Mild smoke and peat remain. Mild apple. A bit of a let-down here, but not bad - Conclusion - If I had to choose between this and Highland Park Wings of the Eagle (17) right now, it would be a bit tough actually, but I think I would land on this. I think I'm going for an 18 or 19 then, but keep in mind that this bottle was open for a couple years and was low for a lot of that time. I expect that I would rate a fresh bottle more highly. Searching my shelf for anything else to compare this with, I find Lagavulin 16 (19). I find that to be closer in quality to this than the Wings of the Eagle was. My final rating for this tasting is going to be a 19.

2019 Batch. Comparing with my previous 2018 review. Still getting chocolate and cherries but a bit lighter and sweeter, with something like pear peaking through on the nose. Taste is lighter and sweeter as well. Still amazing, the differences I’m noticing may mostly be due to the recent higher proofs I’ve been trying. Still my favorite, few bottles can compete in my personal opinion. It may seem $$$$ but I’ve tried a $6000 bottle that I’d rate lower than this. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle.

The nose is smokey with honey in the background. On the palate you get sweet peaty smoke, green apples with cinnamon, and brine. The finish is long and creamy with tobacco and caramelized bacon. This is a delicious whisky that has a good balance of sweet a savory.

Honey, slight peat. Smooth and balanced, but the taste doesn’t blow me away.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle The honeymoon was better than the marriage. The first week was spectacular. I was worried I had an expensive new favorite. This mellows to a very good Scotch, but not something for my regular rotation.

Assessed in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Aroma - Neat - Distinctly Highland Park, but gentler and more refined on the nose than the 12 year old I’m used to. The ethanol nip and more young, gluey notes of the 12 are gone. Baked apple, toffee, mildly Smokey leather, stone fruits, dried preserved fruits. Adding a drop of water . . . A pumpernickel bread characteristic is developing, brown sugar, dates, raisin, a lot of Speyside character is showing up now. Taste - Neat - Saline arrival, English breakfast tea, fudge, a bit nippy. Adding a drop of water . . . Clean, bakers chocolate, biscuity and thick. Final thoughts - It’s damned good, but, I find myself missing the stronger peat notes of the 12 year old version. This expression is clearly much more refined. The oak is less fresh and more so old mahogany furniture, the sharper notes of green Apple and bittered honey in the 12 are now richer, more dense and gentle, but I miss the smoke. All in all, this is an extremely solid Highland scotch, and if it had a bit more smoke, it might just be perfect.

The initial taste is gentle, with a hint of peat. Cedar comes to the fore, and the finish fades gracefully to a warm glow. A simple, unpretentious dram that never disappoints.