Name: Highland Park Valkyrie
Color: Gold
Nose: Smoke, chocolate, spice
Taste: Smoke, wood, spice vanilla, white fruit
Review:
Highland Park Valkyrie is one of several “Viking themed” expressions released by Highland Park Distillery. It is a non-aged stated single malt that has 50% peat mix that is finished in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Highland Park has partnered with Danish fashion designer and writer Jim Lyngvild to create this whisky and the bottle. He is said to have an old Viking blood line and is related to the ancient Earl from the Orkney Islands. The Valkyrie expression is an award winning scotch with many fans. I am not one of those fans.
A brief history;
Valkyrie(s) are from Norse legend and by translation of their name it means “chooser of the slain”. They are ones who decides who lives or dies in battle and escorts them to the afterlife in Valhalla. The Scottish (Scots), which I am half, are direct decedents of the Vikings. They share the same warrior blood line, but not so much the same historical or religious beliefs.
My thoughts;
So, Highland Park hired a guy who is in fashion and very popular from Northern Europe. They slapped his name on a black and gold bottle, added some Viking symbols, blended some smoked whisky, put it in a bottle and there you go! Wow, what a load of horse shit in advertising and marketing. The scotch is ok, it’s not amazing at its price point, however, with a little marketing it seems to be amazing.
Something “smells rotten in the State of Denmark” with respect to some of the high ratings this scotch receives. Valkyrie is not a bad scotch; it is just not worth the price. I get the strong feeling the price is connected to the marketing. I get an Emperors clothes like feeling when I step back at think
Priced around $90 and not worth it. I will stick to my regular aged Highland Park.
If you like it, drink it! – Christopher
If you like it, drink it!
