Highland Park Valknut

Good flavour throughout, doesn't overwhelm the senses

Basically vanilla liquor

My last review on the whiskies from the Highland Park Viking Legends Saga, this time for "Valknut", after having the great Valkyrie and the Not-so-great Valfather. Valknut etimologically comes from "Val" which is a Viking warrior and "Knut", a knot. The symbol to represent a Valknut is three triangles, the ones that appear on the bottle. Talking about the whisky itself, bottled at 46.8%abv, burnished gold color. On the nose, very greasy. BBQ sauce, glazed pork, grease, bacon. After having a first sip, aroma changes into a sweeter profile, with milk chocolate, vanilla. But BBQ is still there. Letting it breath more, will release more vanilla, but also a salty, maritime aroma. On the palate, it becomes sweeter as you take more sips. Starts with bacon, sausages, vanilla and oak spice. Second sip is lot of vanilla and salt. After a third sip, it has become super sweet, a pure vanilla flavor. Aftertaste is where it shows its Highland Park profiles. Smokey, scorched ground, pepper and salt. Prunes and burnt grass. Overall this is a balanced whisky, it stands between the Valfather and Valkyrie. An 87 over a 100 score is fair for it. For the price tag, it is a good dram.

Nose: smoky and meaty. Stonefruit and red fruit. Sweet smell. Stewed pears. Taste: full bodied, sherry cask comes through. Caramel, vanilla, honey and well balanced spices. Finish: chocolate and tobacco, some spicyness.