Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour Single Malt Scotch

Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour hails from Kirkwall, Orkney, the site of Scotland's northernmost distillery until very recently. Its origins trace back to Magnus Eunson, a butcher and church officer who began illicitly distilling on the site in 1798, reportedly even hiding whisky in coffins to avoid excise men. This makes Highland Park one of the oldest legal distilleries, officially licensed in 1826. The brand is renowned for its traditional production methods, including being one of the few distilleries still practicing floor malting for a portion of its barley, and using locally cut Hobbister Moor peat, which is heather-rich and imparts a distinctly aromatic, floral smokiness rather than an intensely medicinal one. This 12-year-old expression, while undergoing a packaging rebrand to "Viking Honour" in recent years, remains a cornerstone of their range, known for its balance of sweet honey, fruitcake, and that characteristic gentle peat smoke, a result of maturation primarily in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks.

Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour offers a balanced profile of heather honey sweetness, subtle peat smoke, and notes of dried fruit and warm spices. It shines in stirred, spirit-forward cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Rob Roy, bringing a gentle smokiness and complexity.

Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour offers a gentle, sweet, and fruity aroma with hints of apricot, orange peel, and a whisper of smoke. The palate is smooth and honeyed, revealing citrus, malt, and distinctive wood smoke. It finishes with a medium length, featuring spicy oak, ginger, a touch of honey, and soft fruits.