A Unique Whisky Experience.

Highland Park VALKYRIE, A first in a series of three Viking Legend. A Unique Whisky Experience.

STORY

“Plunging down from the dark heavens, the Valkyries would descend like avenging angels on horseback to comb the battlefields for the bravest of the fallen warriors, heroes fit to enter the great Norse god Odin’s hall, Valhalla. VALKYRIE celebrates the rich Nordic ancestry on Orkney, which once part of a vast Viking kingdom. “

Highlandpark came up to  Jim Lyngvild, an internationally celebrated designer a modern day Viking and expert in Norse mythology, to design striking new packaging for the three special edition whiskies.

Beautifully balanced and carrying waves of warm aromatic smoke and richly ripened fruit, VALKYRIE is the first in a series of three special Viking Legend releases and has just been awarded the Chairman’s Trophy in the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, scoring 99 out of 100.

Having once been part of Denmark and Norway, Orkney became the raiding headquarters for Norwegian Vikings in the 8th and 9th century, shaping a unique past for the island. Magnus Eunson, who founded Highland Park in 1798, was a direct descendent of those first Viking pioneers. Even today, 1 in 3 Orkney islanders bear Scandinavian DNA and share a fierce pride for the rich Nordic ancestry woven into the islands’ traditions and culture.

Highland Park came up to Danish designer a modern day Viking and expert in Norse mythology, to design this striking new packaging for the three special edition whiskies.

Valkyrie’s unique one-off design is inspired by two important Nordic sources – a typical Viking pendant from around 300-700AD discovered in Upland, Sweden and the ancient Hammer Stone of Gotland which details the epic journey of the Valkyries.

Lyngvild has interpreted the ancient legend of the Valkyries – avenging horse-backed angels who combed the battlefields for the bravest of their fallen warriors – in an expressive, story-telling illustration for Highland Park.

Tasting Note

Nose: Initially quite sweet and chocolately, with sticky raisins and toffee fudge. Then the trademark heathery, aromatic smoke appears along with some orange peel, lemon, honey and a hint of dates.

Palate: The smoke punches to the fore, with liquorice, a sweet earthiness, a touch of ash and some cinnamon. Then more sweet fruitiness comes through – apricot, apple and orange primarily. There’s a little black pepper too.

Finish: The smoke hangs around for quite a while, with wood spice, black tea and some dry oak.

Overall: A punchy whisky, and really well balanced. The smoke is the dominant note and pervades the whisky from the nose to the finish, but it’s complemented with some rich fruits and just enough citrus to keep things spritely.

Highland Park Valkyrie is available from The Oaks Cellars now!

Source: www.highlandparkwhisky.com