Highland Park Thor 16 Years old Valhalla Collection 52.1% NV

Distillerie	Highland Park
Embouteilleur	OB
Serie	Valhalla Collection
Mise en bouteille pour
Date de distillation	NV
Date de mise en bouteille	2012
Pays	Écosse
Région	Orkney
Age	16
Cask Type
Numéro de fût
Alcohol percentage	52.1
Volume
État	dans son emballage d'origine
Étiquette	Parfait
Stock	0
Volume
État	dans son emballage d'origine
Étiquette	Parfait
Stock	0

Avis professionnels

Serge Valentin (89)

Colour: gold.

Nose: starts rather on red berries and discreet whiffs of rubber bands, before it gets rather more mineral, flinty, quite smoky (rather coal than peat) and then more and more herbal, earthy and spicy. In short, it seems that it’s not one of these lush, rounded and honeyed HPs (although there is a little honey), it reminds me of one of the Ambassador’s Casks but I can’t remember which one… Then more butterscotch, caramel and something slightly metallic. With water: the earthiness stands out and the rubber has vanished, completely. Farmyard, slightly gamy, ham, Havana cigar (very obvious) … It swims very well, the nose really became wonderful with water.

Mouth (neat): quite punchy and rather more ‘classic HP’ now, with quite some honey, toffee, caramel, soft gingerbread (the one with a lot of honey) and a very faint saltiness. Develops more on pepper, ginger, nutmeg and liquorice, with always a discreet smokiness in the background. Creamy mouth feel. With water: once again, water makes wonders, even if a few drying tannins woke up. Perfect hard liquorice. Excellent, did they dump some salmiak into the vatting to make it even more ‘Norse’?

Finish: long, with the liquorice still loud and clear. A little cumin and bitter oranges in the aftertaste.

Comments: this little Viking never stopped improving, from the first sniffs to the aftertaste – and it swims extremely well. Not 90 in my book but certainly 89+++, should I use plusses like Standard & Poor's ;-).

Gal Granov (86)

Nose: we’re in different waters here. Much peatier than the regular OBs. Not as sweet. Zest. Some dough. Damp wood.
Palate: Spicy entry then the earthy peat kicks in. Malty and rather creamy. Big body. Oak. Honey and salty dough. Fruit and smoked ginger.
Finish: smoky and spicy. Ginger.


If we’re dealing with quality, it’s a no brainer. this one is of great quality, well done, and a lovely whisky in all aspects. Clearly it is not similar to the regular line of expressions (18 or 21) which are sweeter woodier, and more sherried in profile, so look elsewhere if you are into that style. If you like whisky, and you come open minded, this one will impress you, no doubt.

Words of Whisky (90)

BOW (88.50)