Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride Single Malt Whisky

Product Description

Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride: Orkney’s Most Awarded Single Malt

Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride is the whisky that put Orkney on the map for a lot of single malt drinkers. The distillery was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson in the Orkney Islands, the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland. The 18 Year Old, introduced in 1997, is its most highly awarded bottle, and it’s the one that fans point to when they explain what makes Highland Park different: honeyed sweetness, rich sherry fruit, and a gentle, aromatic peat smoke that never takes over. F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal named it the “Best Spirit in the World” on more than one occasion, and it has earned Chairman’s Awards at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and a 96-point score at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge.

The name comes from the distillery’s Norse heritage, and the Viking Pride name, and the bottle design that came with it, arrived in 2017.

The Five Keystones

Highland Park credits its flavor to five keystones of production, honored for over 200 years:

1. Hobbister Moor peat: Slow-burning, aromatic, heathery peat, cut by hand about seven miles from the distillery.
2. Hand-turned floor maltings: Highland Park still malts part of its own barley on a traditional malting floor.
3. Sherry-seasoned oak casks: The 18 Year Old uses a high proportion of first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, which the distillery says provide up to 60% of the final flavor and give it a rich, natural color.
4. Cool maturation: Orkney’s temperate island climate matures the whisky slowly and evenly.
5. Long, unhurried harmonization: Time to let the casks marry.

It’s bottled at 43% ABV with natural color.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Clear, bright, burnished gold, with natural color.

Nose: Aromatic peat smoke, ripe cherries dusted with bittersweet cocoa, honeycomb, and candied orange peel, with a whisper of Orkney’s salty seaspray.

Palate: Cherries, dark chocolate, toffee, marzipan, and heather honey, with gentle aromatic peat smoke. The whisky is rich and full-flavored but well balanced.

Finish: Long, soft, and round, with sweet toffee, spice, and a trail of smoke.

It’s much softer than the bold, medicinal smoke of many Islay whiskies, which makes it a good bridge for drinkers who like sherry-cask whisky and want to try a little peat.

Food Pairings

The cherry, chocolate, and honey in Viking Pride pair well with dark chocolate, aged cheeses, and smoked salmon. It also goes with roast duck, venison, and grilled lamb, and with desserts like cherry tart, baklava, and crème brûlée.

Serving Suggestions

Viking Pride is best sipped neat in a tulip glass, with a few drops of water to open the honey and cherry notes. It’s a whisky to take your time with, with a cigar, by a fire, or after a special dinner. It’s too delicate for mixers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is Highland Park 18? 86 proof (43% ABV).

How old is it? 18 years.

Is it peated? Lightly. The peat from Hobbister Moor gives a gentle, aromatic smoke, much softer than Islay peat.

What casks are used? A high proportion of first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks.

Is it natural color? Yes.

Where is it made? At Highland Park Distillery on Orkney, Scotland.

What does Viking Pride mean? It’s the name of the 18 Year Old in Highland Park’s Viking-themed range, which also includes Viking Honour (12), Viking Heart (15), and others.

Is it a good gift? Yes. It’s one of the most respected single malts you can give.

Explore More

Want to start with the younger sibling? Try the Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour. Browse our Scotch Whisky collection for more single malts.

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