Highland Park 18 Year Old (often labeled as Viking Pride) is a multi-award-winning 86-proof (43% ABV) single malt Scotch whisky from the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is widely considered by enthusiasts and critics to be the sweet spot of the distillery's core lineup, offering a flawless balance of sherry sweetness and subtle peat.
Product Overview
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Proof / ABV: 86 proof (43% ABV) (Note: Travel retail versions are sometimes bottled at a higher 46% ABV)
Size: 750 ml
Age Statement: 18 Years Old
Key Features & Design
High Sherry Cask Influence: This expression features a high proportion of first-fill European and American oak sherry-seasoned casks, which introduces a deeper, more robust fruit-and-spice profile compared to the younger 12-year-old bottle.
Orkney Peat Profile: True to the Highland Park style, the barley is dried using unique local heather peat. This creates a gentle, aromatic, smoky backbone that never overpowers the delicate fruit and honey notes.
Harmonization Process: After blending the chosen casks together, the liquid is left to marry and rest in warehouses for several months before bottling, ensuring a perfectly smooth and integrated spirit.
Tasting Profile
Nose: Rich bursts of dark chocolate, ripe cherries, heather honey, light marzipan, and a soft, fragrant trail of wood smoke.
Palate: Creamy and rounded. Offers layers of clear honey, warm tiffin cake, candied orange peel, cinnamon, and a distinct salt-honey comb sweetness.
Finish: Long, elegant, and satisfyingly dry with notes of soft wood ash, dark cocoa, and lingering winter spices.