Food & Drink

Review: Highland Park Viking Heart 15 Years Old (2022) and Cask Strength Release No. 2

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Highland Park continues to refresh its venerable whisky lineup, its most up-to-date replace being the introduction of Viking Coronary heart, which replaces its outdated 15 yr outdated. That is completely new liquid — bottled in a ceramic decanter from Wade Ceramics, no much less — and features a “excessive proportion” of first-fill sherry casked whisky.

At present we try Viking Coronary heart together with the second launch of Highland Park Cask Strength, the primary version of which gained our #1 whiskey of the year in 2020.

Let’s dig in.

Highland Park Viking Coronary heart 15 Years Outdated (2022) – The softer facet of Highland Park is on show right here, kicking off with a cereal-heavy nostril that gives notes of recent hay, virtually burlap-like, undercut with a pointy and oxidized citrus notice. The palate is straight away vivid and evenly candy, providing a gently doughy shortbread notice that serves as a beautiful base upon which to construct. A light-weight brown sugar component offers strategy to loads of orange and lemon from the sherry barrel, then strikes right into a grind of fresh-ground pepper and sharper baking spice components, together with some gingerbread on the end. The lightest whiff of peat smoke is clear because the whisky fades away — clearly much less influential right here than in older expressions of HP, however current nonetheless. Very effectively balanced and easy-drinking at 44% abv, it clearly stands as a workhorse, door-opener of a whisky for the model. 88 proof. A- / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY] [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]

Highland Park Cask Power Launch No. 2 – I attempted this “uncut & unfiltered” expression — “chosen primarily from sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, together with just some ex-bourbon casks” — at a current whisky occasion and located it a bit overwhelming, however in quieter, extra pensive instances it showcases rather more nuance, identical to its massive brother. In contrast to Viking Coronary heart, the sherry makes for an fragrant bomb right here, pungent on the nostril with aromas of torched citrus peel, cloves, barbecued meats, and darkish chocolate. It’s wealthy and intense — once more fairly Christmassy, identical to No. 1 — and intensely warming on the palate, notes of honeycomb, sugar cookies, and a lingering notice of oxidized wine clinging to the roof of the mouth. There’s ample sherry lingering on the end — for fairly a while — all nutty and wealthy and stuffed with these racy oxidized notes. It might not precisely have the magic of Launch No. 1, however it’s nonetheless a strong expertise. 127.8 proof. A- / $79 [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

highlandparkwhisky.com

Highland Park Viking Coronary heart 15 Years Outdated (2022)

$100

Ranking


9.0/10

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