Highland Park 12 Year Old 40% vol. 0,7l

Profile: The Highland Park 12 year old at a Glance

• Lightly smoky, with fine heather peat instead of medicinal Islay smoke
• Balanced, combines sweetness, spice and smoke in perfect balance
• Matures in bourbon & Sherry casks, which gives it depth and a subtle fruitiness
• Nordic character, with roots in the Orkney Islands and Viking flair
• Friendly for beginners, but exciting and complex enough for connoisseurs too

Portrait: What makes the Highland Park 12 year old so special

Imagine you're standing on a windswept cliff somewhere high up in Scotland, the sea is raging, seagulls are screeching, and you think to yourself: “I could build a distillery here.” That's exactly what Magnus Eunson did - a man who was probably a butcher by day and... well, a rather unofficial whisky dealer with a questionable tax strategy by night. Welcome to Highland Park!

The Highland Park Distillery was officially founded in 1798 - at a time when Napoleon was still making a fuss and kilts were no longer a fashion gimmick. It's located on the Orkney Islands, a windswept collection of Scottish dream islands, somewhere between "very north" and "almost Norway.". There, on an island called Mainland (ironically, not a mainland island), the distillery has braved the weather, modernity, and bad taste for over 225 years.

Highland Park is proud of its roots, and it shows immediately. The Viking story? Yes, that's not just marketing bling - the Orkneys were actually once part of Norway, and this Nordic vein runs through the entire branding. Bottles with runes, names like "Thor" and "Loki," and a logo that looks like it could be a crest on a dragon ship.

The 12-year-old standard bottling - affectionately called "Viking Honour" - is practically the distillery's flagship. It stands there like a Nordic hero on the supermarket shelf: confident, full of character, and somehow cool, without being too boastful.

In short: Highland Park 12 year old isn't just a whisky. It's a liquid greeting from the Orkneys – with history, character, and a little nod to the Viking helmet.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Highland Park 12 year old tastes like

• Nose: a balanced scent that immediately reminds you of heather and slightly peaty smoke - but more like a campfire in the distance than a smoker in your face - there are also aromas of honey, dried orange peel, a little vanilla and a hint of sherry sweetness - a bit maritime, a bit boggy, very charming
• Palate: smooth and round, with a beautiful balance between sweet and spicy - malt and honey are in the foreground, followed by gentle spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg - the smoke remains subtle but present - like a well-bred Viking who knows when to enter the room - the oak barrel aging adds depth without dominating
• Finish: medium to long, warming and dry - the smoke lingers pleasantly on the tongue, accompanied by light peppery spice and a hint of dark chocolate - the maritime character says goodbye with a salty handshake