Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride
Highland Park · Highland Park Distillery
Highland Park 18 remains one of the great balancing acts in Scotch whisky. Orkney peat is gentler than Islay's iodine punch, and here it weaves through sherry-cask richness without dominating. This is maturity expressed as harmony.
Nose
Aromatic dried fruit and honey arrive first, followed by a graceful waft of smoky peat and clove spice. Beneath it sits a layer of dark cocoa and worn leather.
Palate
Rounded and generous. Honey and dried stone fruit dominate the mid-palate, with smoky undertones adding dimension. Vanilla and orange peel emerge as it opens, supported by a woody, almost cedar-like backbone.
Finish
Exceptionally long and balanced, with peat smoke and dried fruit lingering in equal measure. A final note of dark chocolate closes the curtain.
- Region
- Islands (Orkney)
- Cask Type
- Sherry-seasoned European and American oak
- Peat Level (PPM)
- <20 ppm
- Distillation
- Pot still, double distilled
- Maturation
- Sherry-seasoned European oak and American oak casks
- Chill-Filtered
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Orkney Rob Roy — 2 oz Highland Park 18 · 0.75 oz sweet vermouth · 2 dashes orange bitters · Stir over ice, strain into coupe, express orange peel over surface.
Food Pairing
Seared duck breast with a dried cherry reduction
Distilled on Orkney where the wind never quite stops, Highland Park hand-turns its own floor-malted barley over locally cut peat before aging in a combination of sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks.
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